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Poinsettias for Christmas
Why are poinsettias the flower of choice for Christmas? Your West Hollywood florist brings you the inside scoop.
Why are poinsettias the flower of choice for Christmas? Here’s some inside scoop from your favorite West Hollywood Florist. These vibrantly scarlet flowers have been a symbol of Christmas since the 16th century. The poinsettia is a flower that is indigenous to Central America. The Aztecs called it cuetlaxochitl, which means “flower that withers”.
Legend of Poinsettias
There are many legends as to how the poinsettia came to be the Christmas flower. One legend from Mexico explains that a poor little girl was crying on her way to church because she had to gift to place at the alter for the Virgin Mary when an angel suddenly appeared to her and told her to gather weeds from the side of the road. When the little girl arrived to the altar the withered weeds became beautiful crimson blossoms.
Immigrating Flowers
There are other such tales, but poinsettias were introduced to the U.S. through a man named Joel Roberts Poinsett. Poinsett was the first U.S. ambassador in Mexico in 1825. He owned a few greenhouses back in his hometown of South Carolina so when he saw these beautiful flowers he had them sent back to the United States to be cultivated.
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A Blossoming Industry
Even though Poinsett introduced poinsettias to the United States, a man named Albert Ecke; a German immigrant who lived in Los Angeles in 1990 made them popular. He had opened an orchard in Eagle Rock and fell in love with the flowers so he sold them on street stands for generations. It wasn’t until the third generation that they created the poinsettia industry as we know it today. Ecke sent the flowers to for free to television stations to be displayed on air. He even appeared on television shows like The Tonight Show and Bob Hope’s Christmas special to promote his poinsettias.
The Mystery Remains
The history of the poinsettia is as mysterious as that of Christmas. Its lush red petals resemble the Star of Bethlehem making it an appropriate symbol for the spirit of Christmas. However it came to be, poinsettias are a beautiful addition to any home during the holiday season to add some festive cheer.
