The Legend of the Poinsettia

The Legend of the Poinsettia

In Mexico, the poinsettia is called flor de la Nochebuena (flower of the Holy Night). At Christmastime, the flower blooms and flourishes, the exquisite red stars lighting up the countryside. This Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia came to be, through a little girl's unselfish gift to the Christ Child.

There was once a poor Mexican girl named Pepita who had no present to give the the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve services. As Pepita walked to the chapel, sadly, her cousin Pedro tried to cheer her up.

"Pepita," he said, "I'm sure that even the smallest gift, given by someone who loves Him, will make Jesus happy."

Pepita didn't know what she could give, so she picked a small handful of weeds from the roadside and made them into a a small bouquet. She felt embarrassed because she could only give this small present to Jesus. As she walked through the chapel to the altar, she remembered what Pedro had said. She began to feel better, knelt down and put the bouquet at the bottom of the Nativity scene. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into bright red flowers, and everyone who saw them were sure they had seen a miracle.

The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought to be a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red-colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ. The white leaves represent His purity.

The poinsettia is the national emblem of Madagascar.

Did you know the poinsettia is named for Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American physician and diplomat?

After visiting an area south of Mexico City near Taxco de Alarcón, Poinsett saw what later became known in the United States as the poinsettia. Poinsett, an avid amateur botanist, sent samples of the plant to the U.S., and by 1836 the plant was widely known as the "poinsettia." Also a species of Mexican lizard, Sceloporus poinsettii, is named in Poinsett's honor.