Hello everyone! The Christmas is just around the corner, and today the point in hand will be mainly about one of the most traditional Christmas symbols. It’s all about Christmas flower that can be white, pink and red color. This plant has different names – “Cuitlaxochitl” (it means “flower that grows in soil” in the language of the Aztecs), “Flor de Pascua” (it means “Easter Flower” in Spanish) or “La Flor de la Noche Buena” (it means “Flower of the Holy Night” in Guatemala and Mexico). This plant is called “Atatürk’s Flower” in Turkey because the founder of the Turkey Republic was fond of this flower and tried to cultivate it everywhere. Of course, it comes about Poinsettia flowers.

The day of December, 12, is considered to be National Poinsettia Day. This unofficial holiday was nevertheless officially declared by an Act of Congress. In fact, poinsettias are native to Mexico, and there is a legend about this flower. The legend tells about a poor girl who didn’t have enough money to buy a good gift for the celebration of Jesus Christ’s Birthday. The angel appeared to give her an idea. She gathered roadside weeds and laid them down on the altar. The story then tells the weeds had immediately blossomed with crimson red poinsettia flowers. This legend dating back to the 16^th century poetically gives rise to the poinsettia’s association with the holiday of Christmas. Later, from the 17^th century, Franciscan friars usually used poinsettias within the framework of Christmas ceremonies.

Poinsettias got this name in honor of Joel Robert Poinsett, an American diplomat and the first United States Minister to Mexico. Actually, Poinsett Bridge, Poinsett Highway, Lake Poinsett in South Dakota, Poinsett State Park in South Carolina were named for him, as well as the poinsettia flower was. Joel Robert Poinsett found this plant while visiting Taxco, Southern Mexico, and sent some poinsettia plants to his home in South Carolina, in 1828. December 12th is chosen as Poinsettia Day, because of the Poinsett’s death this day in 1851.

Today poinsettia flowers are usually used in Christmas decorations; among them are Christmas bows, embroidered motifs, fireplace decorations, cards and many others. People of all over the world buy and receive these flowers as a traditional gift for Christmas. Russian ladies readily purchase this plant for decoration of their houses and offices as well. By the way, red-colored flowers are preferred against white ones.