Legend of the Poinsettia

Legend of the Poinsettia – Below is a legend of how we get the Poinsettia, why we have it around Christmas, why it is a winter plant and what it has to do with Christmas and why churches use them during Christmas. Plus it tells you other names used as well for this special Holy Flower. Plus free printable version!

Legend of the Poinsettia

Legend of the Poinsettia

A charming story is told of Pepita, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Christ Child at Christmas Eve Services (Holy Mass). As Pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.

“I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eye.” said Pedro.

Not knowing what else to do. Pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarrassed than ever by the the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.

As she approached the altar, she remembered Pedro’s kind words: “Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes.” She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.

Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.

From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.

Today, the common name for this plant is the poinsettia!

What is a poinsettia

The poinsettia is a plant from Mexico. It is known for its red and green foliage. Mostly used around Christmas for floral displays. Also known as the Christmas Even Flower. The star like leaf pattern was said to resemble the Star of Bethlehem (Christmas Star). The red color is to symbolize the blood of Jesus Christ and His crucifixion on the cross. The Aztecs would use it for red dye and even an antipretic medicine (fever reducer).

Find out if poinsettias are poisonous and how to prolong their life of a poinsettia.

Other names for Poinsettia

  • Cuetlaxochitl (Flower that grows in residues) by the Aztecks
  • Flor de Noche Buena (Christmas Even Flower) in Mexico & Guatemala
  • Flor de Pascua or Pascua (Easter flower) by Spain
  • Crown of the Andes in Chile & Peru
  • Atatürk’s flower in Turkey
  • Santa Claus’ Flower in Hungry
  • Euphorbia pulcherrima the Binomial name

Free Printable

The Legend of the Poinsettia Printable

Right-Click the image above, choose save file as pdf. Then print it. Or you can just click on it.

National Poinsettia Day

This day is held every December 12th. And on Poinsettia Day, the Poinsettia is displayed on the Dia de le Virgen, or Virgin’s Day in Mexico.

I used this in Patterson Post 2004, our family Christmas Newsletter from 2004. I am also sure there are some various different versions out there as well.I also published this on December 9, 2014 and last Updated/Republishing December 23, 2020.

Subscribe To Courageous Christian Father!


Subscribe

Don’t miss any blog posts! Subscribe today! You can subscribe via WordPress or by entering your email! Thank you!

Follow Courageous Christian Father on WordPress.com

Join 1,564 other subscribers

Don’t forget to also share blog posts you love on your favorite social media too! Thank you! Sharing is caring!

Follow Steve Sews on Social Media

Follow on: Threads


Below are some examples of blog entries from all the blogs that I do. (Courageous Christian Father, Steve Sews Stuff, and SteveZ DesignZ). 

Loading RSS Feed

Recent Posts

  • If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything
    The Liberating Power of Truth: A Christian Perspective – In a world filled with complexities and moral dilemmas, the age-old wisdom of Mark Twain rings true: “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” As Christians, we find profound guidance in the Scriptures that reinforces the importance of truth in our lives. #bgbg2
  • Jetpack Like Button showing loading
    Jetpack Like Button showing loading – in most cases, you can troubleshoot by disabling, plug-ins, and themes, and seeing what is the culprit. But if you have Dreamhost, there may be another issue.
  • Fast Christmas music can lead to a speeding ticket
    Fast Christmas music can lead to a speeding ticket – ‘Tis the season to be jolly, but could your choice of Christmas music be putting a damper on your holiday spirit? As festive tunes fill the airwaves, it turns out that the tempo of your seasonal playlist might have unintended consequences, including a potential encounter with flashing blue lights. In this blog post, we explore the unexpected link between fast-paced Christmas music and the risk of receiving a speeding ticket.
  • Who is David Platt
    David Platt is a prominent figure in the world of evangelical Christianity, known for his impactful teachings and influential role as a pastor, author, and speaker. Platt has dedicated his life to spreading the message of the Gospel and inspiring others to live out their faith in a meaningful way. #DavidPlatt
  • Radical by David Platt
    Embracing a Radical Faith: A Christian Reflection on “Radical” by David Platt – In a world that often pulls us in various directions, the call to radical discipleship remains steadfast. David Platt’s book, “Radical,” serves as a reminder of the radical commitment required of every follower of Christ. #Radical

Thank You For Reading Courageous Christian Father!


Thank you for reading. Please feel free to share and like this blog post.

About the Author

Author: Steve Patterson

A Christian Blogger that enjoys blogging about the Bible, Theology, God, Jesus Christ, Christian Music, Family, Cats, Odd Holidays, sewing and much more. I have been blogging since 2004, however, I have been blogging on Courageous Christian Father since 2012. I enjoy listening to Christian Music. I am married with 1 daughter, 2 step-sons and a step daughter.

6 thoughts on “Legend of the Poinsettia

  1. I have just found this site – and what a thrill it was too!
    I commend you for the work you do here and know that the Lord has blessed your efforts over the years.
    Please – never give up in these efforts to provide Christian input on our screens, it’s wonderful (& it’s rare!).

    Greetings from Australia

  2. May you have a Blessed Christmas. Please note the Christmas Eve service is Holy Mass. Also it is altar not alter.

Feel free to share your comment! Thank you!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.