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Monday 12 December 2022

Poinsettia Day

One thing that is always part of Christmas in our house is the Poinsettia, at least one ... if not more, are purchased, and they do look so warm, cheerful and welcoming dotted around on tables, shelves etc. Of course there are many varieties available but for me my favourite is the wonderful RED ones, they are brilliant. We also have some cheery Father Christmas 'wooden' ornaments / decorations and they sit well together on the hall table 🎅 

What I didn't know about Poinsettias is that apparently each year on the 12th of December, people across the United States celebrate these most recognizable plants of the holidays on a special day, aptly named National Poinsettia Day.


Poinsettia plants are native to Central America, especially an area of southern Mexico known as 'Taxco del Alarcon' where they flower during the winter.

The poinsettia was made widely known because of a man called Joel Roberts Poinsett (that's why we call them Poinsettia!). He was the first Ambassador from the USA to Mexico in 1825. Poinsett had some greenhouses on his plantations in South Carolina, and while visiting the Taco area in 1828, he became very interested in the plants. He immediately sent some of the plants back to South Carolina, where he began growing the plants and sending them to friends and botanical gardens.

One of the friends he sent plants to was John Barroom of Philadelphia, who gave the plant to his friend, Robert Buist, a plants-man from Pennsylvania. Robert Buist was probably the first person to have sold the poinsettias under their botanical, or latin name, name 'Euphorbia pulcherrima' (it means, 'the most beautiful Euphorbia'). It is thought that they became known as Poinsettia in the mid 1830's when people found out who had first brought them to America from Mexico.

There is an old Mexican legend about how Poinsettias and Christmas come together, it goes like this:-

There was once a poor Mexican girl called Pepita who had no present to give the the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked to the chapel, sadly, her cousin Pedro tried to cheer her up.
'Pepita', he said "I'm sure that even the smallest gift, given by someone who loves him will make Jesus Happy."

Pepita didn't know what she could give, so she picked a small handful of weeds from the roadside and made them into a a small bouquet. She felt embarrassed because she could only give this small present to Jesus. As she walked through the chapel to the altar, she remembered what Pedro had said. She began to feel better, knelt down and put the bouquet at the bottom of the nativity scene. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into bright red flowers, and everyone who saw them were sure they had seen a miracle. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the 'Flores de Noche Buena', or 'Flowers of the Holy Night'.

The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red coloured leaves symbolize the blood of Christ. The white leaves represent his purity.

Do you have Poinsettias at Christmas  / the Holiday Season?

And talking about things coloured red
can I interest you in a tasty and warming bowl of
Roast Red Pepper & Tomato Soup
you can see more details/recipe here


You will find a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan

38 comments:

Tom said...

...red is classic, but they come in so many colors these days.

kathyinozarks said...

Good morning your soup sounds delicious and perfect for cold weather.
I did not know there was a poinsetta day. I always loved these plants too and I preferred the red ones. I stopped buying them though when I learned they are poisonous they have a milky sap that causes allot of issues. so not safe around children or pets.
enjoyed the post Hugs Kathy

Valerie-Jael said...

Hot soup is really good when it's cold outside! Valerie

Practical Parsimony said...

The poinsettia flower is the little yellow center in the middle of the red leaves. I do love the red ones best.

Sue said...

Well I didn't know that! I love poinsettias too, they always do really well for a few months and then just die overnight lol. We were recently in Spain and I took a photo of Neil standing next to a poinsettia TREE! Take care and have a very happy week, Sue xx

R's Rue said...

Beautiful

Jo said...

I've still got a tiny poinsettia which I bought last year, though the red of its leaves has now faded and it's just green.

Chatty Crone said...

I love the story of the poinsettia - I am going to be putting some on my mother and brother's graveside next week. I love the red.

Lorrie said...

I have a trio of small poinsettia plants on my dining room table this year. They are white, on a red tray. We don't have a special poinsettia day here in Canada, but they are very popular and sold in many places. I enjoyed reading the legend of the plant's origin.

CJ Kennedy said...

Poinsettias are beautiful, but sadly no poinsettias here as they are toxic to kitties.

eileeninmd said...

The Poinsettias are pretty!
I did not know about Poinsettia Day.
Have a happy day!

Christine said...

Thanks for sharing this information on beautiful poinsettias.

Bill said...

Poinsettias are a pretty plants.

Jenn Jilks said...

Yummy looking soup.
I don't usually get in poinsettia. They are lovely, though. Thanks for the explanation!

Anita said...

oh Ilike tomatoe soup !!

Elephant's Child said...

I love poinsettas but cannot grow them, so leave them in the stores. Thanks for that charming fable.

Divers and Sundry said...

We have one delivered to my mother-in-law for Christmas each year. Those prices have really gone up!!!

William Kendall said...

I don't recall them ever being in the house, but their toxicity to cats would be the reason why.

happyone said...

I bought one last year and though it no longer has red leaves it is still a healthy plant. :) I'll be getting anther one this year.

Lowcarb team member said...

Many thanks to you all for sharing your thoughts and comments on this post.

Some of the comments mentioned the toxicity of these plants, so I am sharing these words from this article/post:

Toxicity Of Poinsettias: Are Poinsettia Plants Poisonous

While the plant isn’t considered toxic, it still shouldn’t be eaten and large amounts may cause stomach upset to dogs and cats, according to the Pet Poison Hotline. Also, the fibrous leaves may present a choking danger in young children or small pets.

Lastly, the plant exudes a milky sap, which may cause redness, swelling and itching in some people.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Toxicity Of Poinsettias: Are Poinsettia Plants Poisonous https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/poinsettia/are-poinsettia-plants-poisonous.htm

All the best Jan

The Happy Whisk said...

I LOOOOOOOVE adding red peppers to tomato soup. It adds such a lovely, I'm not sure, not kick. Maybe it's more of a brightness that it adds.

Ananka said...

Lovely flowers and yummy soup :-D

Thanks Jan, for your well wishes. My daughter didn't have Strep A. She had a bacterial infection and is doing a lot better now :-D

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

Artificial poinsettias and holly are my favorite holiday plants.

Conniecrafter said...

We use to get them but our new kitty is interested in any new things and it could make him sick so we have decided not to get one this year.
I like the little story about going to give a gift to baby Jesus, and how the name of the flower came about :)

Margaret D said...

They are a lovely plant even though they are toxic if eaten by animals.
The colour is beautiful and I've seen them growing in a caravan park on our travels.
Good read Jan.

José Antonio Sánchez Rumí said...

Very interesting the history of the poinsettia, it is a part of these dates, something almost indispensable in homes.
That soup has to be delicious.
Best regards.

Luiz Gomes said...

Boa tarde meu querido amigo. Essas flores vermelhas são muito lindas, mas aqui no Brasil não temos a tradição delas como enfeite em nossas mesas no Natal.

Lowcarb team member said...

Ananka said...
Lovely flowers and yummy soup :-D

Thanks Jan, for your well wishes. My daughter didn't have Strep A. She had a bacterial infection and is doing a lot better now :-D

Hello Ananka

That is good news about your daughter, sending lots of get well wishes for her.

All the best Jan

Teresa said...

Es una planta preciosa. Besos.

Jeanie said...

I love poinsettias. My goal is to keep mine alive till at least New Year's!

Sondra said...

my mom always bought amaryllis bulb for The holiday...

Crafty Green Poet said...

That's a lovely story about how Poinsettia became associated with Christmas. Thanks for the historical info too! We don't have poinsettias for Christmas, but the school where I taught in Malawi (many years ago now) had a wall of white poinsettia near the school gates.

bread&salt said...

Here is very cold today and really need a bowl of hot soup now. Poinsettias is a very popular home plant and we call it as "Atatürk çiçegi / Ataturk flower". Greetings.

Martha said...

I love Poinsettias but we haven't had one in the house for years.

Snowbird said...

What an interesting post. I'll be making that soup!xxx

Hilly Nicolay said...

I don't have a poinsettia yet, maybe I'll buy one.


That soup looks delicious!

Kind regards and all the best,
Hilly

Linda said...

Interesting post. I did not know there was a Poinsettia Day.

carol l mckenna said...

Great info about the Poinsetta ~ Xo

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)