Poinsettias
by Janis Tafoya
Title
Poinsettias
Artist
Janis Tafoya
Medium
Painting - Mixed Media
Description
Poinsettias, Original Oil Painting by Janis Tafoya
The poinsettia is native to Mexico. It is found in the wild in deciduous tropical forests at moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific coast of Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. It is also found in the interior in the hot, seasonally dry forests of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas.
The colored bracts-which are most often flaming red but can be orange, pale green, cream, pink, white, or marbled-are often mistaken for flower petals because of their groupings and colors, but are actually leaves.
The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became poinsettias. From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations. The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.
Uploaded
October 23rd, 2018
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Comments (11)
Janis Tafoya
Randy, thanks for the feature in Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group. You work so hard for all of us. Appreciate you so much!!!