Poinsettia by Apophis906

Photography • Macro • posted on Dec 24, 2004

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Description

Well I went and took this one today, feeling in the Christmas mood. I know, always with the really close shots,lol. This is the actual flower of the Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), not just the red leaves. Well as it being this time of year and all, I thought I would share the legend of this plant,since its so fitting. The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico. It tells of a girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing. One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On their way they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course other children teased them when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and miraculously, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals, and soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful star-like flowers and so we see them today. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.