Winter Flowers

Poinsettias:
Poinsettia flowers are native to Mexico and weren't introduced to the United States until the 19th century.  They were named after America's first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett.  The Mexicans in the eighteenth century believed the plants were symbolic of the Star of Bethlehem.  The heavenly body that led the three magi, or wise men, to the place where Christ was born. A different Mexican legend tells of a girl who could only offer weeds as a gift to Jesus on Christmas Eve. When she brought the weeds into a church, they blossomed into the beautiful red plants we know as poinsettias, known as Flores de Noche Buena in Mexico (Spanish for "flowers of the holy night").  Thus the Poinsettia became associated with the Christmas season. The actual flower of the poinsettia is small and yellow. But surrounding the flower are large, bright red leaves, often mistaken for petals.  (various sources were used for this information)

Amaryllis:

Legend has it that the amaryllis - the stunning red flower we've come to associate with the holidays - began as a shy, timid nymph. Amaryllis fell deeply in love with Alteo, a shepherd with Hercules' strength and Apollo's beauty, but her affections were unrequited.  Hoping that she could win him over by bestowing upon him the thing he desired most - a flower so unique it had never existed in the world before - Amaryllis sought advice from the oracle of Delphi.  (I got this from Teleflora.com) 

I have a deep love for amaryllis because of my maternal grandma.  Each year when we would do her Christmas shopping for her she would always ask my mom to get her an amaryllis or 2, and would give us extra money to get one for our house.  Grandma had a difficult time during the Christmas season because of a tragedy that occurred years before.  It seemed that the beautiful amaryllis was one of the few things that brought her joy during the Holiday Season.  I never thought much of the beautiful flower or how excited Grandma would get about it when it bloomed until the year came that we no longer had her with us.  That year was so empty and sad without grandma and the amaryllis.  We got one in her honor and have been doing so every Christmas since then.  

To: MKP, Grandma, Love you, miss you.  xoxo