This month's cover features beautiful Poinsettias. During my visit to Mexico City two years ago I saw them growing in their brilliancy everywhere. Mexicans call it “Flor de noche buena” or “Christmas Eve flower.” The Poinsettia is a quintessential plant of the winter holiday season, that has some of its history written into its name. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States minister to Mexico, took a fancy to the plant in 1828 and sent samples back home. In its native region, Euphorbia pulcherrima was used by the Aztecs for dyes and medicine. Spanish Catholicism made the connection to Christmas: the “flowers,” which are actually leaves, were said to be shaped like the Star of Bethlehem, with the red color representing the blood of Jesus. With that, enjoy them and Merry Christmas y Feliz Navidad from Latino Lubbock Magazine!
