In the United States the poinsettia, with its beautiful, red, star-shape, is the favourite for the celebration of Christmas. It is called the "Flame Leaf" Central America or "Flower of the Holy Night" and was brought to the States over a hundred years by Dr. Joel Poinsett, America's first to Mexico. Most of the poinsettias used now come California.

The of the poinsettia comes from Mexico. The story is about a girl Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but they always looked to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was up in the village church and the days before Christmas were filled parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas but were always sad because they had no money to buy . They especially that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had .

One Christmas , Maria and Pablo set for church to the service. On their way they some weeds growing along the roadside and decided take them as their to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course other children them when they arrived with their offering, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the plants around the manger and , the green top leaves turned bright red petals, and soon the manger was by beautiful star-like flowers as we see the Poinsettia today.