਍㰀䠀䔀䄀䐀㸀ഀഀ Poinsettia Plant: A Christmas Custom from Mexico ਍㰀䴀䔀吀䄀 一䄀䴀䔀㴀∀搀攀猀挀爀椀瀀琀椀漀渀∀ 䌀伀一吀䔀一吀㴀∀琀栀攀 倀漀椀渀猀攀琀琀椀愀 倀氀愀渀琀㬀 䄀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 䌀甀猀琀漀洀 昀爀漀洀 䴀攀砀椀挀漀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 氀攀最攀渀搀 猀甀爀爀漀甀渀搀椀渀最 琀栀攀 瀀漀椀渀猀攀琀琀椀愀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀 戀椀爀琀栀 漀昀 䨀攀猀甀猀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀∀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀䴀䔀吀䄀 一䄀䴀䔀㴀∀欀攀礀眀漀爀搀猀∀ 䌀伀一吀䔀一吀㴀∀倀漀椀渀猀攀琀琀椀愀Ⰰ䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀Ⰰ挀甀猀琀漀洀Ⰰ氀攀最攀渀搀Ⰰ䴀攀砀椀挀漀Ⰰ渀愀琀椀瘀椀琀礀Ⰰ挀栀甀爀挀栀Ⰰ洀愀猀猀Ⰰ䨀攀猀甀猀Ⰰ䌀栀爀椀猀琀Ⰰ䐀爀⸀ 䨀漀攀氀 倀漀椀渀猀攀琀琀Ⰰ䐀爀攀愀洀氀愀渀搀 䴀愀最椀挀∀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀䴀䔀吀䄀 一䄀䴀䔀㴀∀搀椀猀琀爀椀戀甀琀椀漀渀∀ 䌀伀一吀䔀一吀㴀∀䜀氀漀戀愀氀∀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀䴀䔀吀䄀 一䄀䴀䔀㴀∀挀漀瀀礀爀椀最栀琀∀ 䌀伀一吀䔀一吀㴀∀꤀匀漀渀椀愀 䌀⸀ 䨀攀渀猀攀渀∀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀䴀䔀吀䄀 一䄀䴀䔀㴀∀刀伀䈀伀吀匀∀ 䌀伀一吀䔀一吀㴀∀椀渀搀攀砀Ⰰ昀漀氀氀漀眀∀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀⼀䠀䔀䄀䐀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀䈀伀䐀夀 戀愀挀欀最爀漀甀渀搀㴀∀最爀愀瀀栀椀挀猀⼀瀀漀椀渀猀攀琀琀椀愀戀愀挀欀最爀漀甀渀搀⸀樀瀀最∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀　∀㸀ഀഀ
਍㰀吀䄀䈀䰀䔀 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㠀　─∀ 挀攀氀氀瀀愀搀搀椀渀最㴀∀㄀　∀ 挀攀氀氀猀瀀愀挀椀渀最㴀∀㌀　∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀㄀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀挀漀氀漀爀㴀∀最爀攀攀渀∀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀吀䐀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀挀攀渀琀攀爀∀ 戀最挀漀氀漀爀㴀∀眀栀椀琀攀∀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀挀攀渀琀攀爀㸀㰀昀漀渀琀 挀漀氀漀爀㴀∀爀攀搀∀㸀㰀栀㈀㸀吀栀攀 倀漀椀渀猀攀琀琀椀愀 倀氀愀渀琀㬀 䄀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 䌀甀猀琀漀洀㰀⼀栀㈀㸀㰀⼀昀漀渀琀㸀㰀⼀挀攀渀琀攀爀㸀ഀഀ

From the scorching heat of Mexico comes the legend and custom of the Poinsettia.

਍㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀樀甀猀琀椀昀礀∀㸀䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 椀渀 䴀攀砀椀挀漀 栀愀猀 愀氀眀愀礀猀 戀攀攀渀 愀 栀甀最攀 昀攀猀琀椀瘀愀氀⸀  吀栀攀 琀漀眀渀猀 愀渀搀 瘀椀氀氀愀最攀猀 愀爀攀 搀攀挀漀爀愀琀攀搀 椀渀 戀爀椀最栀琀氀礀 挀漀氀漀爀攀搀 爀椀戀戀漀渀猀 愀渀搀 戀愀渀渀攀爀猀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 瀀愀爀愀搀攀猀 愀渀搀 瀀愀爀琀椀攀猀 昀椀氀氀 琀栀攀 猀琀爀攀攀琀猀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀ഀഀ

Many years ago, in a small village, there lived a very poor family. In this family there lived a little girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo. Even though they were very poor, they looked forward to the Christmas season when the village was all decorated and there was a large nativity scene set up outside the village church.

਍㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀樀甀猀琀椀昀礀∀㸀䄀氀琀栀漀甀最栀 琀栀攀 挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀 氀漀瘀攀搀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀Ⰰ 琀栀攀礀 眀攀爀攀 瘀攀爀礀 猀愀搀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀礀 搀椀搀 渀漀琀 栀愀瘀攀 愀渀礀 洀漀渀攀礀 琀漀 戀甀礀 瀀爀攀猀攀渀琀猀⸀  吀栀攀 琀栀椀渀最 琀栀愀琀 猀愀搀搀攀渀攀搀 琀栀攀洀 琀栀攀 洀漀猀琀 眀愀猀 琀栀愀琀 琀栀攀礀 栀愀搀 渀漀 洀漀渀攀礀 琀漀 最椀瘀攀 琀漀 琀栀攀 挀栀甀爀挀栀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀 䌀栀椀氀搀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀ഀഀ

On this Christmas Eve long ago, the two children were walking to the church to celebrate the Christmas Eve services when Maria noticed some weeds growing along the side of the road. The children decided to pick the pretty green weeds and take them to the Baby Jesus as their gift.

਍㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀樀甀猀琀椀昀礀∀㸀圀栀攀渀 䴀愀爀椀愀 愀渀搀 倀愀戀氀漀 最漀琀 琀漀 琀栀攀 挀栀甀爀挀栀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 漀琀栀攀爀 挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀 猀琀愀爀琀攀搀 琀漀 琀攀愀猀攀 琀栀攀洀 愀戀漀甀琀 琀栀攀椀爀 最椀昀琀 漀昀 眀攀攀搀猀⸀  吀栀攀 琀眀漀 挀栀椀氀搀爀攀渀 眀攀爀攀 瘀攀爀礀 猀愀搀 愀渀搀 猀愀椀搀 渀漀琀栀椀渀最 愀猀 琀栀攀礀 瀀氀愀挀攀搀 琀栀攀 最爀攀攀渀 瀀氀愀渀琀猀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀 渀愀琀椀瘀椀琀礀 猀挀攀渀攀 愀渀搀 琀栀攀渀 眀攀渀琀 椀渀猀椀搀攀 琀栀攀 挀栀甀爀挀栀 琀漀 洀愀猀猀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀ഀഀ

Jesus was very pleased with this lowly gift from the heart of the children and the green leaves on the top of the plant turned into bright red petals. When Maria and Pablo came out of the church after the service, their sad faces turned to huge smiles when they saw their beautiful gifts to the Christ Child.

਍㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀樀甀猀琀椀昀礀∀㸀伀瘀攀爀 漀渀攀 栀甀渀搀爀攀搀 礀攀愀爀猀 愀最漀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 唀渀椀琀攀搀 匀琀愀琀攀猀 漀昀 䄀洀攀爀椀挀愀 猀攀渀琀 䐀爀⸀ 䨀漀攀氀 倀漀椀渀猀攀琀琀 琀漀 䴀攀砀椀挀漀 愀猀 琀栀攀椀爀 昀椀爀猀琀 愀洀戀愀猀猀愀搀漀爀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 椀琀 眀愀猀 栀攀 眀栀漀 戀爀漀甀最栀琀 琀栀攀 倀漀椀渀猀攀琀琀椀愀 倀氀愀渀琀 戀愀挀欀 琀漀 栀椀猀 挀漀甀渀琀爀礀⸀ 匀椀渀挀攀 琀栀攀渀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 倀漀椀渀猀攀琀琀椀愀 栀愀猀 戀攀挀漀洀攀 愀 昀愀瘀漀爀椀琀攀 猀礀洀戀漀氀 漀昀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 愀氀氀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀Ⰰ 愀渀搀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 漀昀琀攀渀 最椀瘀攀 漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀猀攀 瀀氀愀渀琀猀 琀漀 琀栀攀 栀漀猀琀攀猀猀 漀昀 愀 栀漀洀攀 眀栀攀渀 瘀椀猀椀琀椀渀最 搀甀爀椀渀最 琀栀攀 栀漀氀椀搀愀礀 猀攀愀猀漀渀⸀㰀⼀瀀㸀ഀഀ
਍㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀氀攀昀琀∀㸀㰀昀漀爀洀 洀攀琀栀漀搀㴀∀最攀琀∀ 愀挀琀椀漀渀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀愀渀爀搀漀攀稀爀猀⸀渀攀琀⼀椀渀琀攀爀愀挀琀椀瘀攀∀ 琀愀爀最攀琀㴀∀开戀氀愀渀欀∀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀琀爀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀琀搀 瘀愀氀椀最渀㴀∀琀漀瀀∀ 㸀ഀഀ

Wood chest, 'Poinsettia Treasure'

਍㰀瀀㸀㰀昀漀渀琀 猀椀稀攀㴀∀㈀∀㸀倀漀椀渀猀攀琀琀椀愀猀 戀氀漀猀猀漀洀 愀洀椀搀 氀攀愀瘀攀猀 愀渀搀 戀攀爀爀椀攀猀 椀渀 琀栀攀 戀攀愀甀琀椀昀甀氀 搀攀猀椀最渀 漀昀 琀栀椀猀 瀀椀渀攀眀漀漀搀 挀栀攀猀琀⸀ 䴀愀猀琀攀爀 挀愀爀瘀攀爀猀 昀爀漀洀 䜀甀愀琀攀洀愀氀愀✀猀 一愀栀甀愀氀ﴀ⃿䄀爀琀椀猀愀渀 䌀漀漀瀀攀爀愀琀椀瘀攀 挀爀攀愀琀攀 琀栀攀 漀爀渀愀洀攀渀琀愀琀椀漀渀 椀渀 栀椀最栀 爀攀氀椀攀昀 眀椀琀栀 猀甀戀氀椀洀攀 搀攀琀愀椀氀⸀㰀⼀昀漀渀琀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀ഀഀ
਍㰀椀渀瀀甀琀 琀礀瀀攀㴀∀栀椀搀搀攀渀∀ 渀愀洀攀㴀∀瀀椀搀∀ 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀∀㈀㌀㠀㘀㘀㜀㈀∀⼀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀椀渀瀀甀琀 琀礀瀀攀㴀∀栀椀搀搀攀渀∀ 渀愀洀攀㴀∀挀樀猀欀甀∀ 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀∀㄀㠀㐀㌀㤀㐀∀⼀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀椀渀瀀甀琀 琀礀瀀攀㴀∀栀椀搀搀攀渀∀ 渀愀洀攀㴀∀甀爀氀∀ 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀渀漀瘀椀挀愀⸀挀漀洀⼀椀琀攀洀搀攀琀愀椀氀⼀椀渀搀攀砀⸀挀昀洀㼀瀀椀搀㴀㄀㠀㐀㌀㤀㐀∀⼀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀⼀琀搀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀⼀琀愀戀氀攀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀愀眀氀琀漀瘀栀挀⸀挀漀洀⼀椀洀愀最攀ⴀ㈀㌀㠀㘀㘀㜀㈀ⴀ㄀　㠀㄀㈀㤀㜀㠀∀ 眀椀搀琀栀㴀∀㄀∀ 栀攀椀最栀琀㴀∀㄀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀　∀⼀㸀㰀⼀瀀㸀ഀഀ

਍㰀䘀伀刀䴀  漀渀猀甀戀洀椀琀㴀∀爀攀琀甀爀渀 搀爀漀瀀搀漀眀渀⠀琀栀椀猀⸀最漀甀爀氀⤀∀ 愀挀琀椀漀渀㴀⸀⸀⼀挀最椀ⴀ戀椀渀⼀爀攀搀椀爀攀挀琀⸀瀀氀 洀攀琀栀漀搀㴀瀀漀猀琀㸀㰀匀䔀䰀䔀䌀吀 渀愀洀攀㴀最漀甀爀氀㸀 㰀伀倀吀䤀伀一 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀∀∀ 猀攀氀攀挀琀攀搀㸀䌀栀漀漀猀攀 愀 䐀攀猀琀椀渀愀琀椀漀渀㨀㰀伀倀吀䤀伀一 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀搀爀攀愀洀氀愀渀搀洀愀最椀挀⸀渀攀琀⼀挀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀⼀挀甀猀琀漀洀猀⸀栀琀洀氀㸀䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 䌀甀猀琀漀洀猀 愀渀搀 吀爀愀搀椀琀椀漀渀猀㰀伀倀吀䤀伀一 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀搀爀攀愀洀氀愀渀搀洀愀最椀挀⸀渀攀琀⼀挀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀⼀挀愀爀漀氀猀⸀栀琀洀氀∀㸀䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 䌀愀爀漀氀猀 愀渀搀 匀漀渀最猀㰀伀倀吀䤀伀一 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀搀爀攀愀洀氀愀渀搀洀愀最椀挀⸀渀攀琀⼀挀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀⼀挀爀愀昀琀猀⸀栀琀洀氀∀㸀䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 䌀爀愀昀琀猀 愀渀搀 䌀漀氀漀甀爀椀渀最 倀愀最攀猀㰀伀倀吀䤀伀一 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀搀爀攀愀洀氀愀渀搀洀愀最椀挀⸀渀攀琀⼀挀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀⼀最愀洀攀猀⸀栀琀洀氀∀㸀䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 䜀愀洀攀猀㰀伀倀吀䤀伀一 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀搀爀攀愀洀氀愀渀搀洀愀最椀挀⸀渀攀琀⼀挀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀⼀爀攀挀椀瀀攀猀⸀栀琀洀氀∀㸀䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 刀攀挀椀瀀攀猀㰀伀倀吀䤀伀一 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀搀爀攀愀洀氀愀渀搀洀愀最椀挀⸀渀攀琀⼀挀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀⼀猀栀漀瀀瀀椀渀最⸀栀琀洀氀∀㸀䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 愀渀搀 䠀漀氀椀搀愀礀 匀栀漀瀀㰀伀倀吀䤀伀一 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀搀爀攀愀洀氀愀渀搀洀愀最椀挀⸀渀攀琀⼀挀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀⼀最椀昀琀猀⸀栀琀洀氀㸀䜀椀昀琀猀 䘀漀爀 夀漀甀㰀伀倀吀䤀伀一 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀搀爀攀愀洀氀愀渀搀洀愀最椀挀⸀渀攀琀⼀挀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀⼀最椀昀琀猀爀攀挀⸀栀琀洀氀㸀䜀椀昀琀猀 愀渀搀 䄀眀愀爀搀猀 刀攀挀攀椀瘀攀搀㰀⼀伀倀吀䤀伀一㸀㰀⼀匀䔀䰀䔀䌀吀㸀 㰀䤀一倀唀吀 琀礀瀀攀㴀猀甀戀洀椀琀 瘀愀氀甀攀㴀∀䨀漀甀爀渀攀礀 伀渀℀∀㸀 㰀⼀䘀伀刀䴀㸀䤀昀 礀漀甀 愀爀攀 栀愀瘀椀渀最 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀猀 眀椀琀栀 琀栀攀 搀爀漀瀀ⴀ搀漀眀渀 洀攀渀甀Ⰰ 甀猀攀 琀栀椀猀 氀椀渀欀 琀漀 爀攀琀甀爀渀 琀漀 㰀䄀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀椀渀搀攀砀⸀栀琀洀氀∀㸀䐀爀攀愀洀氀愀渀搀 䴀愀最椀挀 䌀栀爀椀猀琀洀愀猀 䤀渀搀攀砀 瀀愀最攀㰀⼀䄀㸀㰀⼀倀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀㰀䈀㸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀䘀爀攀攀最甀攀猀琀戀漀漀欀猀⸀渀攀琀⼀洀最⼀最甀攀猀琀⸀瀀氀㼀㄀㔀㐀㠀㌀㨀㄀㐀㨀　∀㸀匀椀最渀 洀礀 䜀甀攀猀琀戀漀漀欀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀䘀爀攀攀最甀攀猀琀戀漀漀欀猀⸀渀攀琀⼀∀㸀㰀椀洀最 猀爀挀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀䘀爀攀攀最甀攀猀琀戀漀漀欀猀⸀渀攀琀⼀洀最⼀椀洀愀最攀⸀最椀昀∀  愀氀琀㴀∀䘀刀䔀䔀 䜀唀䔀匀吀䈀伀伀䬀匀∀ 戀漀爀搀攀爀㴀∀　∀㸀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀愀 栀爀攀昀㴀∀栀琀琀瀀㨀⼀⼀眀眀眀⸀䘀爀攀攀最甀攀猀琀戀漀漀欀猀⸀渀攀琀⼀洀最⼀洀甀氀琀椀⸀瀀氀㼀㄀㔀㐀㠀㌀㨀㄀㐀㨀　∀㸀嘀椀攀眀 洀礀 䜀甀攀猀琀戀漀漀欀㰀⼀愀㸀㰀⼀䈀㸀㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀瀀 愀氀椀最渀㴀∀挀攀渀琀攀爀∀㸀㰀昀漀渀琀 猀椀稀攀㴀∀㈀∀㸀㰀椀㸀ഀഀ All graphics, content and web design were created and copyright © 2000-2005 by Sonia C. Jensen.

਍㰀⼀䘀伀一吀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀⼀吀刀㸀ഀഀ
Wood chest, 'Poinsettia Treasure'
਍㰀⼀䌀䔀一吀䔀刀㸀ഀഀ ਍㰀⼀䠀吀䴀䰀㸀਀