Also known as the Christmas Star and Christmas Flower, it’s said
that this winter flower’s association with Christmas comes from
a Mexican legend. The story goes that a child, with no means for
a grander gift, gathered humble weeds from the side of the road
to place at the church alter on Christmas Eve. As the
congregation witnessed a Christmas miracle, the weeds turned
into brilliant red and green flowers. Named after Joel Roberts
Poinsett, first United States ambassador to Mexico and the
amateur botanist who introduced the plant to the U.S. in 1825,
the poinsettia is also known as Mexican Flame Leaf, Winter Rose,
Noche Buena and, in Turkey, Atakurk’s Flower, because it was the
favorite flower of Atakurk, the founder of modern Turkey. While
considered by the ancient Aztecs to be symbols of purity, in
today's language of flowers, red, white or pink poinsettias, the
December birth flower, symbolize good cheer and success and are
said to bring wishes of mirth and celebration.