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Poinsettia |
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The poinsettia that is also known as also known as Mexican flame leaf or Noche Buena is a sub-tropical plant famous for its striking red displays during Christmas time. It is very often used as a floral decoration for Christmas because of its festive colors. Because of its bright, flaming red color and star shape, its popularly known as a "Christmas Star" or "Flame of Holy Night" in the United States.
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Poinsettias typically reach a height of 0.6 to 3 m (2 to 10 ft). The plant bears dark green leaves that measure 7 to 16 cm (3 to 6 in) in length. The top leaves are flaming red, pink, or white and are often mistaken as flowers.Poinsettias are local to southern Mexico and Central America, where they may even reach the height of sixteen feet. Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States ambassador to Mexico, brought the plant in the U.S. in the year 1825 and thus named after him. In the U.S. poinsettias can be found in the wild in Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
This flower represents the profound love for Christ and deep devotion of a pure innocent human being to child Jesus. There is a Mexican legend that explains the association of poinsettias with Christmas. The devotees in the story were two lovely, naïve children who were not so lucky as their friends to have enough riches to do what their heart desired for.
These poor children who lived in Mexico were Maria and Pablo, her dear little brother. Since Christmas has special association with kids, just like, they were looking forward to the Christmas celebrations and watch the annual Nativity play in which an elaborate, huge manger scene was set up in the church of the village. Besides that, the Christmas season in the village meant processions and parties centered around the church and the village people, especially children, gave lavish presents to the baby child on the Christmas Eve. Now, these two children truly loved Christ and the season of His birth a lot. They desperately wished to get something special for the baby Christ but dint have enough money to buy even simplest of gifts.
They were unhappy and were quite disappointed by their poverty and misery when they set out to attend the church service. They embarked on a longer route in a dreamlike hope to find some blossoms to give the child but couldn't find any. They faced a lot of difficulties during their journey. But the hope and faith in the Christmas spirit kept them moving ahead. Finally, they pulled out up some wild weeds along the roadside as a gift for the Baby and move towards the Church door. The children who were already there started teasing them, how cruel can children be sometimes! Yet, they braved their way to the manger and carefully placed the greenery around the manger. What followed then was the biggest surprise for all that were present! The weeds burst forth into bright red star-shaped flowers and looked most dazzling of all gifts that the baby Christ had received that day.A miracle had happened! The story demonstrates the warmth and the true nature of Christmas celebrations.
So add lots of poinsettias to your Christmas decorations and flower arrangements and rejoice in the wonderful miracle of life-Christmas!
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