The Poinsettia Legend

Poinsettias themselves are a special holiday gift from Mexico. Legend has it that once there were two very poor Mexican children. They looked forward to the Christmas Festival, where a large manger scene was set up every year in front of the village church. One Christmas Eve, the children set out to attend church services. On their way, they picked weeds growing along the road and decided to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus at the manger.  The other children teased them for not bringing expensive gifts but they knew they had given what they could give. As they placed the weeds around the manger, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals. Soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful, star-like flowers named after the first US Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett. Everybody at the manger said that a gift of love is dearer to Jesus than the most expensive presents money can buy.  Ever since then, Poinsettia have been favorite Christmas decorations.

Wishing you and yours a warm Christmas filled with the gift of love.

Charlotte