December 12th is the day of the Flor de Pascua
December 12th is the day of the Flor de Pascua, also called the Christmas Flower or Poinsettia, in honor of the birth of Joel Poinsett, an American diplomat who brought this flower to the United States in the early 19th century. The origin of the Flor de Pascua is in Mexico, where it is known as “Nochebuena” and is strongly associated with the Christmas festivities, symbolizing joy and celebration. The Mexican legend related to the flower tells the story of a girl who, without money to buy a Christmas present, gathered herbs and offered them to the baby Jesus, which miraculously transformed into beautiful red flowers. During his mission in Mexico in the 1820s, Joel Poinsett was enchanted by the plant and brought seedlings to the United States, growing them in his home in South Carolina. In his honor, the flower came to be called "Poinsettia" and quickly became one of the most popular in Christmas decorations.
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