A native Mexican plant,
poinsettias were named after Joel R. Poinsett, U.S. ambassador to Mexico who
brought the plant to America in 1828. Poinsettias were likely used by Mexican
Franciscans in their 17th century Christmas celebrations. One legend has it
that a young Mexican boy, on his way to visit the village Nativity scene,
realized he had no gift for the Christ child. He gathered pretty green branches
from along the road and brought them to the church. Though the other children
mocked him, when the leaves were laid at the manger, a beautiful star-shaped
flower appeared on each branch. The bright red petals, often mistaken for
flowers, are actually the upper leaves of the plant.
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