December 16, 2011
Symbol of Christmas:
Poinsettia
This is the first symbol of Christmas that I've researched that doesn't have European beginnings. Poinsettias actually come from Mexico and they are a Christmas tradition from that country. But long before that the poinsettia was used by the Aztecs. I got some information from this site about the poinsettia, where it came from and how it became a traditional Christmas flower.
The earliest records of the plant date to Aztec times. Poinsettias had their beginning in Mexico near present day Taxco. For most of the year, they are nondescript shrubs, but when the days grow shorter, they develop brilliant red flowers. The Aztecs called the plant "Cuetlaxochitle," and it was a symbol of purity. King Montezuma imported poinsettias because they could not be grown in the capital city (now Mexico City) due to the high altitude and climate. Aztecs made a reddish-purple dye from the bracts and extracted medicine for fever from the plant's latex.
The association with Christmas, according to legend, comes from a young Mexican girl named Pepita. She was sad because she was poor and had no gift to present to the Christ Child at the church service on Christmas Eve. As she walked sorrowfully to church with her cousin, Pedro, he consoled her by telling her even the most humble gift, given in love, is acceptable.
Pepita gathered a bouquet of "weeds" along the road and entered the church. She approached the altar and placed her gift for the Christ Child. Miraculously, her "weeds" burst into brilliant red blooms they called "Flores de Noche Buena" — or "Flowers of the Holy Night."
Although poinsettias never change color quite that fast, they do "bloom" as the days become shorter.
New research sheds additional light on how this plant made it to American and European markets. Joel Roberts Poinsett, was a plantation owner and botanist from South Carolina.
While serving as the first United States ambassador to Mexico from 1825-1829, he was impressed by the brilliant red flowers he found while visiting Taxco one December. He had plants sent to his home and grown in his greenhouse. Poinsett sent seeds and plants of early poinsettias to a commercial nursery in Philadelphia. The poinsettia's history as a successful cultivated crop goes to Albert Ecke. He emigrated from Germany to Switzerland and then to Southern California and eventually started growing the bright scarlet flowers to sell as cut flowers for Christmas.
Whew! I had no idea! What I found interesting was that the poinsettia doesn't "bloom" until winter. I don't know how much truth there is in the Mexican legend about the poinsettia, but reading that story reminded me of a another story. It's found in 1 Kings 17:10-16. This is the story about Elijah and the widow. The Lord commanded Elijah to go to a city called Zarephath. There he would find a widow who would be able to feed and provide shelter for him. When he found her, he asked her to give him some water and some bread, but she literally didn't have anything left except a little flour and oil which she was preparing to make for herself and her son, expecting it to be their last meal. He commanded her to make it for him and told her that everything would be okay and she would have enough for herself and her son. She did as she was told and miraculously, the containers of flour and oil never emptied and she had enough to feed her family for many days. Just like in the Mexican legend, and this story of the widow, when we give everything we have to the Lord, He will open up the windows of heaven and bless us with the things we need. So for me, the poinsettia is a symbol of miracles. Miracles happen when we are faithful and trust in the Lord. Christ blessed the lives of others while He was on this earth, performing many miracles for those who had faith in Him. Miracles don't have to be big though. There are miracles all around us every day if we stop and look for them. This holiday season, take time to recognize the miracles in your life and give thanks to our Father in Heaven for them. And as we celebrate the birth of Christ, let's not forget the miracle of His birth and what a wonderful blessing it was to the world.
