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 plants 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 asa tall perennial shrub, often growing over 10 feet in height. Poinsettias have become one of the most popular blooming houseplants to celebrate 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 milky sap served as medicine to treat a
variety of ailments. In the 17th century, the Poinsettia was adopted in the Fiesta of Santa Pesebre, a nativity procession, 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 Azteca jalisco, one of the best-known legends relates that a humble girl offered some simple
branches as a gift to the Child Jesus; When placed on the altar, they bloomed in an intense red color, interpreted asa miracle. Other versions point out that Christmas Eve symbolizes sincere love and sacrifice, which is why this plant is associated with Christmas and good wishes.
According to historical and academic records poinsettia was also a symbol of purity and life, as well as being used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. As with many tropical plants, poinsettia are not to be ingested by humans or pets. If you have decked the apartment with natural plants like holly, poinsettia, mistletoe and amaryllis, you want to keep them out of your pets reach.
It’s true that poinsettia make great gifts for hosts and people who seem to have everything else, and they are often the centrepieces of household holiday decor. But those berries, needles and leaves might contain chemicals and other dangers for your pets, especially cats and dogs. As with many tropical plants, poinsettia are not 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, you want to keep them out of your pets reach. While not fatal, the toxins 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.