BoSt Notable Inklings: Legend of Poinsettia

Legend of Poinsettia

There is an old Mexican legend about how Poinsettias; here’s a brief account of it:

Once upon a time there was a poor Mexican girl named Pepita. Christmas day has always been the joyous occasion when, after the Christmas Eve Services, many would leave fine presents at the foot of the baby Jesus’s statue to express their love and devotion to the savior of man.

On Christmas Eve, on the way to the Chapel with her cousin Pedro, Pepita’s face was visibly downcast. Being so impoverished she felt particularly sad for she had nothing special to give to baby Jesus.

Pedro tried to cheer her up. “Dear Pepita,” he mumbled tugging at his cousin’s sleeve. “This is Jesus’s birthday, and you, of all the people I know, have the purest of hearts. Why should it matter that you don’t have a notable gift for him? I’m certain that even the smallest of gifts given from the sincere heart, especially one as sweet as yours, will matter.”

Pepita somewhat comforted nodded. But what could she give to the baby Jesus?

Suddenly, her eyes fell on a cluster of weeds growing alongside the road. She squatted and picked some then carefully bundled them into a neat bouquet. She removed the red ribbon, her only prized possession that had secured her hair in a ponytail, and made a beautiful bow to fasten the bouquet of weeds.

Observing them she still felt bit embarrassed because she could only give this small present to Jesus. As she walked, blushing, through the chapel to the altar she took heart remembering what Pedro had said. She began to feel better, knelt down and reverently put the bouquet at the foot of baby Jesus. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into bright red flowers, and everyone who saw them were amazed believing they had just witnessed a miracle.

Word spread quickly and from that day on, the bright red flower was known as the 'Flores de Noche Buena', or 'Flowers of the Holy Night'.

To date we celebrate the Poinsettia. Many liken the shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves to symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolizes the blood of Christ and the white leaves represent his purity.