The Top 40 Traditions of Christmas: The Story Behind the Nativity, Candy Canes, Caroling, and All Things Christmas by David McLaughlan Page B
Authors: David McLaughlan
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fraternity might also be gleaned from watching Santa visit
every
country in the world.
26
Poinsettias
Who?
Joel Roberts Poinsett was the U.S. Minister to Mexico from 1825 to 1830 and introduced the flower to the States in 1825. A botanist as well as a statesman, his name was attached to the poinsettia after he brought plants to the United States.
If one name has a greater connection to the flower than Poinsett’s, it would be Ecke. German immigrant Albert Ecke sold them from a street stall. His son developed a better way of growing them, and soon the family supplied every poinsettia sold in the States. Even now the Ecke family provides half the poinsettias sold in the States and almost three-quarters of those sold worldwide.
What?
Legend tells of a girl in sixteenth-century Mexico who wanted to add something to her village church’s Christmas display. But, poor as she was, she had nothing to give. An angel in disguise encouraged her to pick some roadside flowers— which she thought were simply weeds! But she picked them, and she took the “weeds” to the church, where she laid them on the altar in a spirit of love.
Miraculously, the “weeds” flowered on the altar.
Poinsettias are now prominent in the decoration of churches of many denominations at Christmastime. Easy to keep as well as beautiful, they also decorate countless homes and workplaces over the festive season.
Where?
The poinsettia grew naturally in Mexico and in many parts of Central America. When the Ecke family had their virtual monopoly, the flowers were mostly grown in California.
Countries with similar environmental conditions to Mexico, like parts of Egypt and Australia, have also successfully cultivated the poinsettia. In Egypt it is known as
Bent el Consul,
or the consul’s daughter, as a token of respect to Joel Poinsett.
Since the secret of growing poinsettias the Ecke way has become known outside the family, poinsettia production has increasingly moved back south of the border.
Poinsettias are now sold all across the world, especially in the lead-up to Christmastime.
When?
Despite being known as a Christmas flower, the poinsettia actually has a day of its own dedicated to it. Poinsettia Day is the twelfth of December, the birthday of Joel Roberts Poinsett.
The poinsettia is a “short day” flower. They flower best at the times of year when there are fewer than twelve hours of daylight in a day. In this way they are almost guaranteed the undivided attention of the pollinating insects, which have a much wider range of flowers at other times of the year.
Poinsettias were used for medicines and dyes by the Aztecs since at least as far back as the fourteenth century.
Why?
Of course, the poinsettias that poor Mexican girl brought would have flowered anyway, but the point is made that everything in God’s creation is a miracle if seen the right way, even weeds. And Jesus doesn’t want expensive offerings as birthday presents. He will accept the least little thing from even the poorest of us, if it is offered in a spirit of love.
The shape of the poinsettia leaves are said to imitate the Star of Bethlehem, and the deep-red color supposedly represents the blood Christ spilled for us at the Crucifixion. Thus one little flower symbolizes the birth and death of the Messiah.
27
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Who?
Despite being the most famous of Santa’s reindeer now, Rudolph was not always so well known. Robert Lewis May, a copywriter, wrote the reindeer’s story down in a book meant to be given away free as a Christmas promotion.
Robert Lewis May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks was a songwriter with a special talent for writing Christmas songs. He took May’s story and turned it into one of the most successful Christmas songs ever.
The “singing cowboy” Gene Autry had his biggest ever chart hit when “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” took him to
every
country in the world.
26
Poinsettias
Who?
Joel Roberts Poinsett was the U.S. Minister to Mexico from 1825 to 1830 and introduced the flower to the States in 1825. A botanist as well as a statesman, his name was attached to the poinsettia after he brought plants to the United States.
If one name has a greater connection to the flower than Poinsett’s, it would be Ecke. German immigrant Albert Ecke sold them from a street stall. His son developed a better way of growing them, and soon the family supplied every poinsettia sold in the States. Even now the Ecke family provides half the poinsettias sold in the States and almost three-quarters of those sold worldwide.
What?
Legend tells of a girl in sixteenth-century Mexico who wanted to add something to her village church’s Christmas display. But, poor as she was, she had nothing to give. An angel in disguise encouraged her to pick some roadside flowers— which she thought were simply weeds! But she picked them, and she took the “weeds” to the church, where she laid them on the altar in a spirit of love.
Miraculously, the “weeds” flowered on the altar.
Poinsettias are now prominent in the decoration of churches of many denominations at Christmastime. Easy to keep as well as beautiful, they also decorate countless homes and workplaces over the festive season.
Where?
The poinsettia grew naturally in Mexico and in many parts of Central America. When the Ecke family had their virtual monopoly, the flowers were mostly grown in California.
Countries with similar environmental conditions to Mexico, like parts of Egypt and Australia, have also successfully cultivated the poinsettia. In Egypt it is known as
Bent el Consul,
or the consul’s daughter, as a token of respect to Joel Poinsett.
Since the secret of growing poinsettias the Ecke way has become known outside the family, poinsettia production has increasingly moved back south of the border.
Poinsettias are now sold all across the world, especially in the lead-up to Christmastime.
When?
Despite being known as a Christmas flower, the poinsettia actually has a day of its own dedicated to it. Poinsettia Day is the twelfth of December, the birthday of Joel Roberts Poinsett.
The poinsettia is a “short day” flower. They flower best at the times of year when there are fewer than twelve hours of daylight in a day. In this way they are almost guaranteed the undivided attention of the pollinating insects, which have a much wider range of flowers at other times of the year.
Poinsettias were used for medicines and dyes by the Aztecs since at least as far back as the fourteenth century.
Why?
Of course, the poinsettias that poor Mexican girl brought would have flowered anyway, but the point is made that everything in God’s creation is a miracle if seen the right way, even weeds. And Jesus doesn’t want expensive offerings as birthday presents. He will accept the least little thing from even the poorest of us, if it is offered in a spirit of love.
The shape of the poinsettia leaves are said to imitate the Star of Bethlehem, and the deep-red color supposedly represents the blood Christ spilled for us at the Crucifixion. Thus one little flower symbolizes the birth and death of the Messiah.
27
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Who?
Despite being the most famous of Santa’s reindeer now, Rudolph was not always so well known. Robert Lewis May, a copywriter, wrote the reindeer’s story down in a book meant to be given away free as a Christmas promotion.
Robert Lewis May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks was a songwriter with a special talent for writing Christmas songs. He took May’s story and turned it into one of the most successful Christmas songs ever.
The “singing cowboy” Gene Autry had his biggest ever chart hit when “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” took him to
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