WHAT HAS POINSETTAS GOT TO DO WITH CHRISTMAS?

Christmas is 17 days away and decorations can be seen at malls and shops. Since I am a person who likes celebrating festivals, I went and bought a pot of poinsettas for festive cheer.
Hmm....some of you may wonder what this plant has in common with the celebration of Christ's birth.
Actually, there is this story of the plant's association with Christmas which began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.