Many poinsettias will adorn the insides and outsides of homes during this Christmas season. But besides their festive color, have you ever heard the meaning behind the use of this flower as a Christmas decoration?
There is a Mexican legend about a poor little girl who had nothing to give to the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve service. She was encouraged by her cousin that even the smallest gift would make Jesus happy, so she picked a handful of weeds and formed them into a small bouquet. As she placed them in front of the nativity scene at the front of the church, she began to feel better. Magically, the weeds burst into bright red flowers, and everyone who saw this happen began to call them the “Flores de Noche Buena,” or “Flowers of the Holy Night.”
Of course, that is all based on a legend, but the shape of the poinsettia flower and its leaves are often still a reminder of the Bethlehem star that shone brightly over the city that special night.
So the next time you see a poinsettia this season, let it remind you of the beauty and wonder that filled that little town that first Christmas, and that still can fill our hearts today as we seek to worship and reflect on the majestic wonder of Jesus.
