The Poinsettia Christmas Flowers

Everywhere you go as Christmas approaches, you see poinsettias. In my home, on people's porches and steps, poinsettia adorned clothes and jewelry and filling the church on Christmas eve. As lovely as they are in brilliant red, soft rose or creamy white, you have to wonder just why they are so prevalent and considered the Christmas flower. I discovered this wonderful story which so beautifully tells the legend of the poinsettia Christmas flower.

There once was a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present to the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.

Pedro tried to console her saying, "I’m sure, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes."

Then Pepita saw a patch of weeds growing at the side of the road Not knowing what else to do, she knelt down and gathered a handful of the weeds and fashioned them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, Pepita felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by her offering. As Pepita fought back a tear, she entered the small village chapel.

Pepita approached the alter remembering Pedro's kind words; "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay her bouquet of weeds at the foot of the nativity scene.

Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red! All who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.

Interestingly enough, poinsettias were first introduced in the United States in 1825 by Joel Roberts Poinsett. While serving as the first United States Ambassador to Mexico, he visited Taxco and found the flowers growing on the adjacent hillsides.

By an Act of Congress, December 12 was set aside as National Poinsettia Day. The date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett who died in 1851.

On this day I will enjoy the beauty of the poinsettia and be reminded of the greatest love of all, that bestowed upon us by Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.