Flor de Noche Buena - The Poinsettia
The Poinsettia with it’s star shaped green leaves that turn into a deep
red at the top, has several names and a very interesting history and legend.
Euphorbia pulcherrima (literally, "the most beautiful Euphorbia") also known as the “Flor del Noche Buena” (see legend) in Mexico, or the “Flame Leaf” in Central America is a favorite of all of theAmericas at Christmas. It is commonly known to many in North America as the Poinsettia, named after Dr. Joel Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. (1825 - 1829)
While visiting the Taxco area, in Mexico, where the plant is native, in
1828 he encountered it and fell in love with the flowers. He then shipped
some to his own nursery in Greenville, South Carolina where they wer
e given
to several others eventually to be grown commercially.
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Where did it come originally from?
The plant was originally used by the Aztecs and was called “Cuetlaxochitle”.
They used the sap from the plants bract to reduce fevers and to make a
reddish-purple dye. It is said that Montezuma, the last of the Aztec Kings
brought the flowers from Southern Mexico in caravans to Mexico City because
it would not grow at the higher altitudes.
The Legend of “Flor de Noche Buena” There is also a wonderful legend in
Mexico as to how the flower became used to celebrate Christmas. It begins
with a poor girl named Maria or Pepita and her little brother Pablo or cousin
Pedro depending on who tells the story. She was very sad, being so poor that
she had nothing to give baby Jesus in the manger scene in the Village Church.
On Christmas Eve ( Noche Buena) on the way to the church Maria picked some weeds to make a bouquet to bring to the manger scene. Her little brother said to her “it does not matter what she gives as long as it was given in love”. The children of the village, of course teased them until they saw the plants turn from green to a bright red on top right before their eyes as Maria knelt at the alter. The whole village then realized they had just witnessed a true Christmas miracle and from that day on the plant became known as the “Flor de Noche Buena”.
We here at Baja Insider hope that you too enjoy the miracle of the “Flor de Noche Buena” or Poinsettia and wish you the best for the Holidays.