December 12, 2013
Photo Caption: Poinsettias growing wild on Islands in the Caribbean, in January.
OUR OLD BOOK CASE
By Joyce L. Alig, President, Mercer County Historical Society “Poinsettia ~ The Flower of the Holy Night”
The Poinsettias were growing wild on the hillside; while we were touring the Caribbean Islands
in January. The plants’ velvet red and neon pink colors were vivid in contrast with the healthy
green plants, almost as if they both knew they were on the opposite sides of the circle of the
Artist’s Color Wheel. While being fascinated with the beauty of the plants, I was considering the
difference of the growing season in the cold weather at home in Ohio and the warm weather
under the sun of the Caribbean Islands.
Our cold Ohio winters make life too difficult for the growth of Poinsettias. Therefore, if
Poinsettias did not originate in Ohio, where was their homeland? I did a search in Harold
Warp’s book, “500 Fascinating Facts; A True Record of Discoveries, Inventions, Developments
in these United States and Persons Responsible.” published by the Pioneer Village Foundation in
Minden, Nebraska in 1992.
Warp gives credit to the land south of Mexico City, near Taxco and Cuernavaca, where the red
flowers bloom during the December season. The Franciscan Friars from Spain found these
brilliant red flowers and decorated with the flowers during their celebration of the Nativity. The
Friars’ custom became a tradition in Mexico and the red flower became known as the “Flower of
the Holy Night.”
Joel Poinsett, plantation owner in Greenville, South Carolina, was appointed as the U.S.
Ambassador to Mexico in 1825. When he found these rich red flowers blooming around Taxco
in December, he sent some plants to his home. A botanist, Joel Poinsett learned these plants
grew well in the greenhouse. Joel named the plants after his own family, as “Poinsettias,” and
gave these red flowering plants to his horticultural peers.
However, the plants would only grow outside in the weather, in the U.S., in the southern parts of
Florida and California. In 1902, Albert Ecke began raising Poinsettias, as a potted plant. In the
1920’s Albert’s son, Paul Ecke, continued growing the Poinsettias indoors and developing
various colors in the plants. By 1930, the Poinsettia was becoming a part of the tradition of
Christmas celebration in the U.S.
“Flower of the Holy Night,” the Poinsettia, is a Christmas present for each of us because we can
appreciate the beauty of the Poinsettias throughout our Villages, churches, businesses, and
homes. In spite of being fragile, Poinsettias retain their delicate leaves through the Christmas
season, into the New Year. We can silently thank the Spanish Franciscan Friars in Mexico for
creating the tradition of the “Flower of the Holy Night,” and Joel Poinsett from South Carolina
for bringing the tradition to the United States, and for preserving this part of religious history,
which has become a part of Mercer County’s history.
[The Mercer County Historical Society President Joyce Alig, may be contacted at 3054 Burk-St. Henry
Road, Saint Henry, OH 45883, or [email protected] or 419-678-2614.]