Over time in popular culture, a number of items have evolved to create a series of worldwide Christmas symbols. The first modern Christmas tree is credited to Germany in the 16th century, while the first trees in America were erected in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Adorning the outsides of our home with Christmas lights came about in the mid-sixties, when big, bright bulbs were seen lining the eaves of homes. And the poinsettia, also known as the Christmas plant, became a symbol of Christmastime in the 16th century in its native lands now known as Mexico.
Today, Poinsettias grace the mantels, hearths, dinner tables, and front porches of homes all over the world during the holidays.
Approximately 70 million of the colorful varieties of the Christmas plant are sold worldwide in a period of six weeks each year. But most people don't give a thought to where the Poinsettia came from.
Poinsett rose to great heights in the political circles within South Carolina but had extensive experience traveling the globe. His knowledge of Spanish countries in Central America earned him the position of First Minister to Mexico soon after Mexico was granted independence. In the 1820s during his trips to Mexico, Poinsett began sending hoards of poinsettias, also known in Central America as the Christmas Eve flower, back to his greenhouses in South Carolina.
Aside from its origin, there are other aspects of the poinsettia that are unknown or simply misunderstood. Rumors abound as to the poisonous nature of the poinsettia, but despite extensive research, it's never been proven to cause anything other than upset stomach or mild diarrhea if swallowed by humans or pets.
And contrary to popular believe, the poinsettia is not a flower; it's not even close. It's technically a tree. Seen here in a 2006 image taken in Nigeria, poinsettias can grow to as tall as 13 feet.
The plants "bloom" around Christmastime each year due to less daylight hours, among other things. Of course, it's not really a bloom, it's just the leaves changing colors. The process that spurs the change of leaf color from green to red, pink, or white, is called photoperiodism. Essentially, to make a poinsettia change from its ordinary green color, it first must be deprived of light for 12 hours per day for five days in a row.
Did you know about South Carolina's connection to this iconic holiday plant found round the world at Christmastime? And do you buy into the science that can't prove it's poisonous?
Pictured here: a life-sized statue of Joel R. Poinsett, the Father of the poinsettia's journey to America, positioned on the plaza near the Westin Hotel in downtown Greenville, South Carolina.
