Euphorbia pulcherrima 19 December 2025

 

The poinsettia's history began with the Aztecs in Mexico, who used its red bracts for dye and its sap for medicine, calling it cuetlaxochitl. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, introduced it to America in the 1820s, giving it his name and establishing the tradition of its association with Christmas when he sent cuttings back to his South Carolina greenhouses. The Ecke family later popularized it as a potted holiday plant in the 20th century through breeding and marketing efforts, making it a global Christmas symbol. AI

 Not known by people who are not botanically inclined is the fact that the poinsettia is a euphorbia and euphorbias all have a white and very caustic sap.

I particularly like the Nahuatl (language of the Aztecs) name of cuetlaxochitl.  Xochitl means flower and the prefix “that withers”.

For me ever since Rosemary died on 9 December 2020 I have lost my Christmas spirit. We always celebrated, like in Latin America, Christmas Eve. I would make a roast beef and Rosemary her very good Yorkshire Pudding. One of our guests for about 5 years before he died was architect Abraham Rogatnick. To our Christmas tree ornaments he made origami birds. I now have no heart to buy a tree and take out all those ornaments with memories that go back to my childhood.

My good friend Tim Turner (he has a twin brother Terry) sold our Kerrisdale home and help us buy our Kitsilano duplex. Every year he brings me a large poinsettia. This year I decided to scan it. As soon as I can meet with him I will give him a print of this scan.