Christmas and Poinsettias: History of the Christmas Flower
Try walking into a store around Christmastime and not running into at least one display of vibrant red, pink, yellow, green, and white poinsettias.
They’re everywhere during the holidays, which is weird, because they’re weedy tropical shrubs from Mexico.
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The story of how these valued medicinal plants went from being ground in the molcajetes of the Aztecs for use as medicine to the Christmas displays of homes around North America is one that involves Christian missionaries, clever California growers, and Johnny Carson.
While you’re sitting around the table with friends and family during the holidays, you’ll be able to fill everyone in on how these colorful specimens became undisputed leaders of Christmas decor.
If you’re curious how it all happened, here’s what’s coming up in this guide:
What Is a Poinsettia?Most people call it poinsettia, botanists know it as Euphorbia pulcherrima, the Aztec people refer to it as cuetlaxochitl, which means “brilliant flower,” and the Maya knew it as k’alul wits, translating to “ember flower.”
People in Mexico have used poinsettia shrubs medicinally for centuries and have enjoyed the bright red leaves ornamentally for just as long.
For example, the Aztec people used the plants to make a red dye and as an antirheumatic.
People in the US didn’t really know about E. pulcherrima until ambassador and botanist Joel Roberts Poinsett visited an area south of Mexico City near Taxco de Alarcón and saw the colorful plant.
He sent a few cuttings back to South Carolina in 1828.
Today, the plant is named for him, and he is often
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