National Poinsettia Day
National Poinsettia Day:
Celebrated on the 12th of December annually, people across the United States celebrate one of the most beautiful plants on National Poinsettia Day. In Mexico, the plant is called “La Flor de la Noche Buena” which in English means “Flower of the Holy Night”.
Year | Date | Day | Where |
2020 | 12th December | Saturday | United States |
2021 | 12th December | Sunday | United States |
2022 | 12th December | Monday | United States |
Twitter Hashtags:
#NationalPoinsettiaDay
#PoinsettiaDay
Related: Other National Days Celebrated on December 12th:
National Gingerbread House Day
Why National Poinsettia Day?
The poinsettia is a blooming plant with beautiful red and green foliage, which makes it a very beautiful and popular choice to decorate houses during the holiday season. Although it is native to Mexicans, most of the Poinsettias are exported from the United States. The Aztecs considered poinsettias a symbol of purity because of their amazing red color.
Poinsettia served as a reminder of the sacrifice that the Aztec gods had to make to create the universe and that the debt would be repaid in human sacrifices. The Aztecs used to cure fevers with Poinsettia’s sap.
After the Conquistadors invaded Mexico in the 17th century the wild red flower used in the nativity procession became a part of the Christian ceremony for the first time. It was around this time that many legends were born, and the reason the flower is being called the Flower of the Holy Night is its beau.
The poinsettias are cherished in Mexico as the local legend narrates the story of a girl who didn’t have any gift to present on the day Jesus was born. An angel then appears before the distressed girl and tells her that a gift given with love is the best gift. The girl then gathers weeds from the roadside to keep in the baby’s manger, which miraculously transforms into beautiful red starflowers.
In the 1820s Joel Roberts Poinsett, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Introduced these astonishing red flowers to the United States. He was an ardent botanist and after he found the flowers he sent some of its cutting to his house in Charleston, South Carolina. The botanists first considered this plant to be a weed on its arrival. These flowers started growing well in his greenhouse and he started distributing them and from that, they named the flowers Poinsettia. Joel Roberts Poinsett passed away on 12th December 1851, and this is the reason to celebrate poinsettia day on this date.
How Can We Observe National Poinsettia Day:
- Visit local gardens
The best thing to do is to visit your local greenhouse, buy some of these beautiful flowers, and decorate your house.
- Surprise your friends
You can also order some flowers for your coworker or your neighbour to celebrate this day with them. Make someone happy and remind them to celebrate this day and brighten their day.
- Use social media
Use #NationalPoinsettiaDay and #PoinsettiaDay to give a shout out to the florist for their outstanding service. Go to the local gardens. It is a lovely way to celebrate this day. Not only you will be amazed by the great varieties of the flowers, but the peaceful environment will lower your blood pressure.
- Invite your friends over
Nothing is more beautiful than having friends over and celebrating this wonderful day with them, Show them your decoration and have a drink with them!
Interesting facts about National Poinsettia Day:
Few Interesting Facts on Poinsettia!
- Flowers aren’t the most beautiful petals on the plant, but the red, white, or green leaves. The flowers are actually visible in the centre of each collection of leaves
- The poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, US Ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the flower to the United State in 1825.
- Interesting to know that poinsettia bush can grow to 10 to 15 feet in height.
- In the US more than 35 Million potted poinsettias are sold
- Paul Ecke Jr is known as the father of the modern-day poinsettia industry. He was a farmer in California who discovered the grafting technique that enhanced the branching of the plant. Paul Ecke Je and Paul Ecke Sr are credited for popularizing the plant and its association with Christmas
- The sale of this flower generates an income of $250 million per annum to the US economy.
History Of National Poinsettia Day:
In 2002 The House of Representatives created a day to honour the father of Poinsettia flower, on the day that Joel Roberts Poinsett passed away, 12th December, and like that every year on 12th December People of the US celebrate this day. However, it is not a federal holiday. It is considered to be a day of observance.