The History of Poinsettias as Christmas Flowers

There is no other plant that is as much associated with Christmas as the poinsettia is, being decorated both indoors, in houses and in churches, and outdoors, in public places during the Christmas season. Not only are they red, white, and green, the colors of the season, but they represent both the history and tradition of the popular holiday flower. As a popular holiday plant or flower, poinsettia has an interesting history that may go as far back as ancient days and as recent as the present times.

History of Poinsettias

The poinsettia is a plant of Mexico, specifically, it is found in the warm climate of the tropic and sub-tropic regions of the country. This plant is called something different in Mexico, such as; Flor de Nochebuena which translates to Flower of the Holy Night or Christmas because the plant blooms around this time.

Stories range from the legend of the poinsettia growing from a workings stork-droppings to one of the most famous of all Mexican legends. It involves a wonderful story about a poor young girl called Pepita who had nothing with which to contribute to the Christ Child at the Christmas Eve service. On the way to church, she picked some weeds from the roadside and made a bunch of them. The simple bouquet she held when exiting the church became red flowers as she handed it over to him at the altar. Since that moment, the poinsettia available with Christmas flowers delivery to Goose Creek SC remained associated with Christmas and was considered to symbolize the Christmas attitude of giving.

The symbolic Christmas flowers the poinsettia Lust for the Christmas plant Evidently, the poinsettia has many different meanings and in this brief overview, I tried to reveal as many of them as possible.

However, aside from the beauty in the physical appearance of the plant, poinsettia has a history and meaning as far as the celebration of Yuletide is concerned. Aside from the Mexican folk tale related to Flor de Nochebuena, this flower represents the blood of Christ, and what better way to beautify a place for a holiday that is celebrating his birth?

The flower has a star shape and according to the Christian tradition, there is a symbol of the Star which led wise men to the birthplace of Jesus. The leaves as green stand for hope and new life and the flowers red color represent Christmas celebrations.

The poinsettia available at Goose Creek SC Florist has however taken a modern perspective where the plant is associated with goodwill, love, and togetherness. Due to the endless colorful strips and association with the Christmas story, it has remained a bestseller as a gift and decoration for Christmas houses and even church services all over the world.

The Growing of Poinsettias

Poinsettias are made in a very delicate manner. It has certain light and temperature needs to accomplish the vibrant coloration many appreciate when owning these plants. Poinsettias are cultivated mainly in large commercial greenhouses, and their flowering is induced for the Christmas selling season. It is common to cultivate the plants in pots and it is also cultivated to obtain trailing plants or bushy plants with a very compact appearance.

The second issue concerns the care for poinsettias throughout the holiday season. The plants themselves are fairly hardy but they require proper care to lock in the color so that the flowers last right through the festive season. Poinsettias available at Shine Flowers need a moderate amount of light, but the foliage should be protected from direct sunlight, cold drafts as well as heat sources such as fireplaces. Given proper care, a poinsettia can easily be made to last way past the festive period, right up to the winter period.

The Poinsettia Today

Today people all over the world use poinsettia during Christmas festivities in their homes and elsewhere. Apart from being a gift item and home decoration, it is now used widely for fundraising and has a regular use in the church. Indeed, most churches and religious institutions have adopted poinsettias as their symbol of Christmas flower traditions to mark the birth of Christ. Also, local charities and organizations take benefit of poinsettias during the festive season to sell them and use the proceeds for the right causes.

Also Read: Famous Christmas Flowers and Plants

Today, the poinsettia is a centerpiece, it decorates the shelves above the fireplaces and windows, and it is one of the most popular Christmas gifts. This most emblematic festive flower because it fits the very essence of tradition, beauty, and happiness, of people’s joy and delight will remain an irreplaceable component of the holiday for years.

It is a plant that was born wrapped in myth, and traditions, and with the efforts of people such as Dr. Joel Poinsett. Starting from its birthplace in Mexico, the flower became the symbol of the Christmas season in the United States because of the efforts of the people who did everything to make it special. When putting up poinsettias during the yuletide season, be sure to have some thoughts on their historical background and role in Christmas festivities.

Also Read: Most Popular Flower For Christmas