What are the flower language and legend of the poinsettia?
The poinsettia is a foliage plant of the genus Euphorbia in the family Euphorbiaceae, also known as ivory red, laolai jiao, Christmas flower, Christmas red, painted leaf and so on. What we usually admire is the fiery red leaves at the very top of the poinsettia, which are extremely dazzling, but these are often mistaken for the flower of the poinsettia. In fact, the flowers of the poinsettia are located among the leaf clusters. Let us take a look below at the flower language and legend of the poinsettia!
The flower language of the poinsettia
Subduing demons and vanquishing evil, my heart is burning. The poinsettia is the best flower to represent Christmas, but in some weddings, red and white poinsettias can also be seen decorating the scene, which is “my heart is burning”. Moreover, because it blooms right around New Year's Day and the Spring Festival, it carries the beautiful meaning of universal celebration and jointly wishing for new life.
The flowering period of the poinsettia
The flowering period of the poinsettia is around Christmas. The poinsettia generally blooms from December to February of the following year, and its flowering period falls right during Christmas, New Year's Day and the Spring Festival, so the poinsettia is also called the Christmas flower. At the same time, the broad, fiery red leaves of the poinsettia are the best flowers of the festival, able to add to the festive atmosphere.
The legend of the poinsettia
According to legend, in ancient times, south of Mexico City in the Americas, there was a village with fertile land and abundant water, where agriculture and animal husbandry flourished and people lived and worked in peace and contentment. One summer, a mudslide suddenly occurred, and a huge rock cut off the water source, causing severe water shortage in the area and cracking the land.
At this time, there was a brave man in the village named Porcherima, who, disregarding his own safety, chiseled the rock to draw water, working day and night, and finally broke open the huge rock. The clear spring rushed out like a fierce tiger, and Porcherima, due to excessive fatigue, was swept away by the water. People searched everywhere but found no trace of him.
Time passed day by day, and one day, a herdsman found a flower with bright red top leaves by the water, exceptionally beautiful. This matter stirred the villagers of the village, and the villagers said: this flower looks very much like Porcherima, who in life loved to wear a red jacket. In order to commemorate the person who sacrificed himself to draw water, people named this flower “Porcherima flower”. This legendary flower is the “poinsettia” that people are familiar with today.