For December 14th, 2020
Poinsettias, or as a scientist would call it Euphorbia Pulcherrima . The poinsettia’s symbolism is about Christmas. They say the flower and leaves are sometimes thought to be as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, which led the wise men to Bethlehem, to baby Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ. The white leaves represent his purity.
The Natives of Central America, especially around Southern Mexico in an area called “Taxco del Alarcon” has them blooming in winter and call them “Cuetlaxochitl”. They used it as a dye for material and cosmetics as well as treating fevers.
But it was a man named Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was an ambassador to Mexico in 1825 that started growing them on his North Carolina ranch. He sent them out to other friends who grew plants and eventually to the Ecke family in Southern California in 1830’s and from there, the plant became know as Poinsettia.
An old Mexican legend tells how the Poinsettia and Christmas come together. There was a poor Mexican girl called Pepita who did not have a present to give the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve Services. She picked up a handful of weeds from the roadside and made a bouquet. She knelt down at the nativity scene and suddenly the bouquet of weeds burst into bright red flowers. It was a miracle. From that day on the flowers were known at “Flores de Noche Buena”, “Flowers of the Holy Night. (this was taken from James Cooper 2020 blog WhyChristmas.com).
So, there you have it, that’s why they are a part of Christmas time. But for me, it’s a little more personal, especially this year. See, every year at my church we buy a poinsettia to decorate the church in honor of those we love who have passed away. My list grows. If I were able to buy some this year for the church, there would be at least four from me. For my mom, my sister Susie, my niece Sherise and my step daughter Rene. In fact, my sister, aka my bff, and my niece, another bff, passed away in December, about two years apart. I was very close to them both.
For me, the Poinsettia means Christmas, my favorite Day because it symbolizes my Higher Powers coming to earth, which is huge for me. It symbolizes Love. My love for those who’ve gone on before me. It symbolizes Hope. The hope of a new life, the hope of salvation. The hope that we’ll all be together again someday. It’s about Remembrance and honor.
If I could, I would buy two million poinsettias this year for all the people who have died from Covid19. What a horrible year this has been. We’ve lost sooooo many people. I just right now got a notice on my phone that Charlie Pride died from Covid this morning, today is the 12th as I write this. Yes, he was in his 80’s, but he wouldn’t have died today if he didn’t have Covid. This has got to stop!
I would encourage you all to buy a poinsettia in honor of people we have lost and as a reminder of the hope to come. Just yesterday the FDA approved the Pfizer vaccine. Yay! A light at the end of this very long, dark tunnel.
Today, my beautiful daughter and cute grandson wanted to come visit us. It makes me cry to tell you that I had to tell her she couldn’t come in. I wore a mask as she sat in her truck with her mask on and that is how we visited today ☹. My husband has not been well the last 24 hours and he is very worried, as am I. We are in a serious quarantine- again. Still, we do indeed have hope. The hope we have in Jesus, the vaccine and in the future.
My recovery has brought me mountains of hope over these many years and the love continues grow as well. I am blessed beyond measure. For me, the Poinsettia is a reminder of what I’ve loved and lost since my recovery began. But it’s also a colorful reminder of my faith and hope in my Higher Power.
So, as I sit here, I look over at my Poinsettia and think of the hope and the love of past, present and future. It is truly a beautiful plant, especially in this freezing weather the Poinsettia thrives and grows, giving us it’s radiant beauty.
I don’t get to sit in the pew this year and admire all the beautiful poinsettia’s up on the steps and the stage of the church while we sing “Oh Holy Night” all together. Many people at our church buy those poinsettias each year and it totally brightens up the church with its reminder of our loved ones that have gone before us. At the end of the season, we grab our poinsettia’s and bring them home. But this year, I have one in my living room and it is perfect.
May God bless and keep you all, especially if you’ve lost someone you love dearly this year, to Covid or any other reason. There’s no way a plant replaces anyone in the world, but as a reminder, as a bright and shining reminder, we can honor and love them, as long as we live.
Question of the Week: Who would you buy a poinsettia for this Christmas? What does this beautiful plant remind you of?
