'Flower of the Holy Night'

In Mexico, they are called by many names: "flor de fuego" (fire flower), "flor de Navidad" (Christmas Flower), and "flor de la Nochebuena" (Flower of the Holy Night). Over the years, these lovely plants have become as much a symbol of Christmas as the Christmas tree and mistletoe. Their beautiful and expansive red, white, or pink flowers appear everywhere during the holiday season. In the United States, they are known as poinsettias. The story of how the poinsettia came to represent the spirit of Christmas is one of the most celebrated and popular folk tales in Mexico. Once upon a time there was a little girl named Lucinda who lived with her family in the village of Cuernavaca. Lucinda's papa was a farmer. Lucinda often helped her mama to cook meals and clean the house, and also to take care of her younger brother Paco and her younger sister Lupe. One day, a short time before Christmas, the village priest came to speak to Lucinda's mother, who was a talented weaver. The priest asked if she could make a new blanket to cover the figure of the Christ Child in the Christmas procession. The old one, he explained, was worn out. "Father," answer Lucinda's mother, "I would be honored to weave a new blanket for the Christmas procession, and Lucinda will help me." Soon Lucinda and her mother set to work, using the finest yarn they could buy. In the meantime, everyone in the village was busy making their own gifts to present to Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. Lucinda went to church with the other children to practice the songs they would sing during the procession. "Our gift will be the blanket for the Baby Jesus," she told her friends. "I am helping my mother to make it." Just a few days before Christmas, while Lucinda was at singing practice, Senora Gomez, a woman from the village, came hurrying into the church. "Lucinda," she said, nearly out of breath, "Lucinda, you must go home right away. Your mama is sick and your papa has taken her to see the doctor. You must look after Paco and Lupe until your father returns." When Lucinda got home, Paco and Lupe were crying. They were frightened, and so was she. When Lucinda's father arrived at home he looked tired and worried. He told Lucinda that her mother was very sick and could not come home, and that he would have to return in the morning to stay with her until she is well again. Senora Gomez would take care of her and her brother and sister until while he was away. Lucinda knew how disappointed all the people in the village would be if they had to use the old blanket in the Christmas procession, so she tried to finish the new blanket by herself. But she got the yarn so tangled that even Senora Gomez could not fix it. Lucinda was heartbroken. She had ruined the blanket and believed that ruined Christmas. Now her family alone of all the families in the village would have no gift to present to the Christ child. Lucinda started to cry. On Christmas Eve Lucinda hid so that she would not have to walk in the procession or go to church. Standing alone in the darkness, she watched from afar as everyone hurried into the church, bearing the gifts they had brought for the Christ Child. Lucinda felt ashamed. While Lucinda lingered in the shadows, a mysterious old woman approached her. When the old woman asked Lucinda why she was not walking in the procession, the little girl explained that she could not, for she had no gift to give to the Baby Jesus. "Ah, but you do," the old woman replied. "Any gift is beautiful because it is given. Whatever you bring to the Baby, He will love, because it came from you." Yet, Lucinda still wondered what she had to offer. Looking around, she spotted a patch of tall, spindly weeds. Lucinda ran over and picked a big armful. "Do you think these will be all right?," she asked, but the old woman did not answer. She had disappeared. Lucinda took the weeds and walked into the church. The church was ablaze with candlelight and the children were singing the songs they had practiced. Lucinda walked down the aisle, clutching the weeds in her arms. Throughout the church, people began to murmur to each other when they noticed Lucinda.. Some laughed at the sight of the little girl bringing weeds into church. But Lucinda hastened on toward the manger where the priest had placed the figure of Baby Jesus. When she reached it, she knelt and carefully placed the green weeds around the stable. Then she began to pray. The whole congregation fell silent until a voice suddenly "Look! Look at the weeds!" Lucinda herself couldn't believe her eyes. The green, spindly weeds that moments before she had carried in her arms were now tipped with red flowers, more brilliant than the light of one hundred candles. As the people left the church, all the green weeds as far as the eye could see were bursting with the same beautiful red flowers. Everyone agreed that Lucinda's was the most wonderful gift of all! The tale of Lucinda and the miracle of the poinsettia is a touching Christmas legend. If not for an inquisitive American botanist, however, the people of the United States might well have missed out on the beauty of the poinsettia altogether. Dr. Joel Poinsett, who was the American ambassador to Mexico between 1825 and 1830, was struck by the unusual plants he found growing wild in the jungles and along the roadways. Captivated by their loveliness, Dr. Poinsett took several cuttings with him when he returned to his home in South Carolina. Through his efforts, the poinsettia has gained popularity around the world and has long been essential to the American Christmas tradition. We call these plants "poinsettia" to commemorate and honor Dr. Poinsett, who cherished them, cultivated them, and shared them with the world. Want To Know More? Visit these sights to learn more about poinsettias: The History of the Poinsettia, or the Texas Producers Poinsettia Guide. Check Out At The Library: Tomie dePaola's wonderful retelling The Poinsettia Legend (Grades 2+), and The Gift of the Poinsettia + El Regalo De La Flor De Nochebuena by Pat Mora, Charles Ramirez Berg, and Daniel Lechon (Grades K-3). Something To Think About: Can you think of other flowers or plants that have come to symbolize something special? Next Week: Come meet "Old Benfana" and learn the Christmas traditions of Italy.