Traditional Christmas Décor: Mexican Poinsettia

Tara A. Spears

For those staying in temporary accommodations, adding a vibrant live poinsettia plant is a quick and easy way to decorate for a tropical Christmas. The Thursday outdoor market has many shades of the native poinsettia plant for sale. The poinsettia flower is the undisputed emblem of the holiday season, appearing in homes, plazas, stores, and churches.

The poinsettia, a vibrant red flower that is a popular Christmas decoration, has a rich history of cultivation and symbolism, beginning with the ancient Aztec people of Mexico. In its native environment, the poinsettia thrives as a tall perennial shrub, often growing over 10 feet in height. Poinsettias have become one of the most popular blooming houseplants of the Christmas season, with an estimated 35 million sold annually as gifts and décor.

The ancient Aztec people of Mexico cultivated this plant and saw it as a symbol of purity long before the arrival of Christianity in the Western Hemisphere. They called it cuetlaxochitl, which translates to “mortal flower that perishes and withers like all that is pure.” The red bracts were used to make dyes for fabrics, and the milky sap served as medicine to treat a variety of ailments. By the 17th century, the poinsettia had been adopted into local nativity processions, since it naturally blooms during the Christmas season.

Did you know the colored part of the poinsettia is not a flower? They are bracts, or modified leaves, that change color with shorter days and longer nights. Poinsettias require at least twelve hours of darkness for eight to twelve weeks before the bracts change color. The little yellow buds at the base of the bracts are the true flowers on the plant.

Besides its beauty, this plant is surrounded by legends, popular beliefs, and ancestral meanings that have been passed down from generation to generation. According to Aztecajalisco, one of the best-known legends relates that a humble girl offered some simple branches as a gift to the Christ child; when placed on the altar, they bloomed in an intense red color, interpreted as a miracle. Other versions point out that the gift symbolizes sincere love and sacrifice, which is why this plant is associated with Christmas and good wishes. According to historical and academic records, the poinsettia was also a symbol of purity and life, as well as being used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes.

Poinsettias also make great gifts for hosts and anyone who seems to have everything else, and they’re often the centerpiece of household holiday décor. But as with many tropical plants, poinsettia are not meant to be ingested by humans or pets. If you’ve decked the home or winter rental with natural plants like holly, poinsettia, mistletoe and amaryllis, keep them out of your pets’ reach. While not fatal, the toxins in those berries, needles and leaves can induce vomiting and diarrhea — why spoil your holiday with a sick fur-baby?

Make the most of this holiday season by cherishing time with family and friends, and, of course, enjoying your live poinsettia plant.