A History of Poinsettia Plants-- Part 4: What's in a Name? Flor de Nochebuena

The cultivation of poinsettias dates back to the Aztec Empire in Mexico 500 years ago.

Among Nahuatl-speaking communities of Mexico, this plant is known as cuetlaxochitl, meaning "flower that withers."  It is an apt description of the thin red leaves on wild varieties of the plant that can grow to heights above 10 feet.

Year-end holiday markets in Latin America brim with the potted plant known in Spanish as the "flor de Nochebuena", or "flower of Christmas Eve," which is entwined with celebrations of the night before Christmas.

The "Nochebueno" name is traced to early Franciscan friars who arrived from Spain in the 16h century.  Spaniards once called it scarlet cloth.

Additional nicknames abound:  "Santa Catarina" in Mexico; "estrella federal," or "federal star," in Argentina; ""penacho de Incan," or "headdress," in Peru.

Reckon I'll stick with poinsettia.

--Cootettia

About Those Poinsettia Plants (Not Just for Christmas)

I have two poinsettia plants that are fifteen years old and also one I bought this last Christmas which has survived.  I have no luck with buying the real small ones as they always die on me, but when I do buy a bigger one they are much more likely to survive.

I put them outside on the front porch by the door (with a northern exposure that does get some early morning sun) and, of course, bring them in for the winter and keep them by windows with a southern exposure. The two old ones get some red leaves but not as splashy as the ones you buy at the store.  Their stems are quite woody now.

A will put them back outside in five weeks.  By then, they have lost many of their green leaves, but as soon as they get outside they fill out nicely and even bloom red a little.

Over the next several blog entries I will write about their origins.

--DaCootia

How 25 Christmas Traditions Started-- Part 5: Saint Nicholas, Luminaras, Twelve Days, Poinsettias, Salvation Army

Again, for more information, go to the site (listed in Part 1.)

21.  A VISIT FROM SAINT NICHOLAS

Best known as "The Night Before Christmas."  The classic by poet Clement Moore was written on Christmas Eve 1822.  He was embarrassed by it and it wasn't released until the following year.

22.  LUMINARIAS

Simple, folded brown bags filled with sand and lit by votive candles.  One of my favorite things to see, but very rare.

23.  TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

This spans the 12 days between the birth of Jesus and the visit of the Magi, December 2 to January 6.  The cost to do this in 2019 would be $38, 993.59.

24.  POINSETTIAS

America's Christmas flower.  They were brought to America by our first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinset.  (I have two big ones that are now 25 years old.)

25.  SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS

What would the holidays be without these folks.  This started in  San Francisco in 1891.  

--RoadMas

More on Ohio's Presidents-- Part 6: Why the Scarlet Carnation Is the State Flower

It was adopted by the state in 1904 in memory of President William McKinley, who wore a red carnation on his lapel.

In 1901, at the Pan-American Expo in Buffalo, NY, McKinley was standing in the receiving line, shaking hands  with visitors.  A 12-year-old girl named Myrtle Ledger asked him for a favor:  "Could I have something to show my friends?  They'll never believe I spoke to you."

McKinley then removed his flower from his lapel, and handed it over to the little girl.

A few seconds later, Leon F. Czolgosz, an unhappy anarchist,  with a 32 caliber pistol wrapped in a bandage around his hand shot McKinley twice in the stomach.  The president died  from the wounds a few weeks later.

--Cooter

10 Examples of Confusing Etiquette in Other Countries-- Part 1: Sticking Out Your Tongue

From the Feb. 3, 2015, Listverse by J.D.Louie.

10--  SPITTING--  Members of the Maasai tribe in Africa spit on each other the way we shake hands.

9.  SLURPING--  In some Asian countries it is seen as high praise for a meal.

8.  STICKING OUT YOUR TONGUE--  A New Caledonia it is a wish for wisdom and energy.  With the Maoris in New Zealand it is a show of disrespect.

7.  FLOWERS--  A bouquet of white flowers in China means "Drop Dead."

6.   CLEANING YOUR PLATE--  In some places, the hostess will automatically put more food on it.

Don't Give Me No Flowers.  --DaCoot

The Tournament of Roses Parade-- Part 1

From the Dec. 29-Jan. 4, 2014, American Profile Magazine by Marti Attoun.

Kelly Roberts, 44, of Downey, California, has a 25-year passion about this parade of all parades, and that is to design, build, decorate and drive floats for his city in the 125-year-old Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena.

Downey, California, has been in the parade since 1955.

The theme of this year's parade is "Dreams Come True" and Downey's entry is a Cinderella glass-slipper. Walnuts were ground up to create wood-like railings, crushed poppy seeds to color a water fountain and fresh orchids to resemble falling water and dazzling scroll-work from 15,000 fresh pink, red and yellow roses. I'll sure be looking for this one.

Through the decades, the highly decorated carriages and wagons have been replaced by huge mechanized and animated floats, most built by professional parade companies like the Fiesta Parade Floats in Irwindale, California. Most floats are 55-feet long, but in 2011, there was one 120-feet long that featured a 6,600 wave pool. It had to be specially built to maneuver around street corners.

Always One Impressive Parade. --DaCoot