Legend of the Poinsettia
The legend of the Poinsettia comes from Mexico. It tells of a girl named
Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked
forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set
up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with
parades and parties.
The two children loved Christmas but were always saddened because they had
no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give
something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing. One
Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service.
On their way they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided
to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene.
Of course other children teased them when they arrived with their gift,
but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and
Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and miraculously,
the green top leaves turned into bright blood red petals, and soon the manger
was surrounded by beautiful star-like flowers, just like we see them today.
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