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National Poinsettia Day is an annual celebration observed on December 12. With a week to go for Christmas, the festive decoration would never have been completed without the reddish-orange Poinsettia. The red and green foliage is most often used in floral decoration. The Day observance marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsettia, who discovered the Poinsettia plant. National Poinsettia Day was created to honor Paul Ecke, the father of the poinsettia industry, who discovered a technique for seedling Poinsettia.
“Conversely, the red plant itself burns a brighter red when set off by the green than when it grows among its peers. In the bed I always reserved for poinsettia seedlings, there was little to distinguish one plant from its neighbours. My poinsettia did not turn scarlet until I planted it in new surroundings. Colour is not something one has, colour is bestowed on one by others.” – Arthur Japin
History of National Poinsettia Day
The first celebration National Poinsettia Day was celebrated since the year 2002. The House of Representatives has created Poinsettia Day. It passed a Resolution to honor Paul Ecke Jr., who is regarded as the father of the poinsettia industry. December 12th was chosen for this celebration, as it was the death anniversary of Joel Roberts Poinsett. He was an American botanist, physician, and Minister to Mexico. It was he who, in 1828, discovered Poinsettia flowers growing on a hillside in Southern Mexico. He had then sent cuttings of the plant to his home in Charleston, South Carolina. Poinsett began distributing the flowers once after they had grown well in his greenhouse. In English-speaking countries, the name “poinsettia” soon became the accepted name for the flower.
Later, Paul Ecke’s discovery of a seedling technique made the Poinsettia industry flourish. It wasn’t until the early 1920s that Paul Ecke’s grafting technique caused the seedlings to branch and take root in American culture. He had advanced the sales of the poinsettia with shipping and marketing. The botanical name of the plant is known as Euphorbia Pulcherrima. In Mexico, it is called La Flor de la Nochebuena, or Flower of the Holy Night. It will be displayed on this celebration Day, Dia de la Virgen. The Poinsettia plant used to celebrate Christmas in Mexico dates back to the 17th century. The story is connected to a girl who says she was worried as she was too poor and had no gift to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. An angel tells her that any gift given with love is wonderful. With that, the young girl gathered weeds alongside the road and placed them around the manger. The weeds had miraculously bloomed into beautiful red stars.
Other Celebrations on December 12
December 12 is also celebrated as
How to Celebrate National Poinsettia Day
Celebrating National Poinsettia Day is very simple. Decorate your house with red and green poinsettia foliage. You can visit the nearest local greenhouse or florist to get the seedlings of poinsettia and plant them in your garden. Share your views and celebration pictures on social media using the hashtag #PoinsettiaDay.
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