The Legend of the Poinsettia
By Ashley Sanchez
In a small village in Mexico lived a little girl name María and her brother Pablo. They were a poor family spending most of their days harvesting maize.
Christmas time was rapidly approaching. Although María and Pablo did not have many gifts at Christmas, it was a very special time of year for their family and they enjoyed celebrating in the fesitivities at their local church.
This year the village church set up a beautiful manger for Baby Jesus. Each and every village member came bearing beautiful gifts that they left for the Baby Jesus. This made María and Pablo very sad.
María and Pablo wished desperately to be able to give the Baby Jesus a gift. On Chirstmas Eve, as they walked to the village church without a gift and tears in their eyes a beautiful angel suddenly appeared.
María and Pablo were frightened but as the angel approached them surround by the softest glow of white light she comforted them. "Do not be afraid my children" she said. The angel then instructed María and Pablo to pick some green weeds from the side of the road and bring them to the church to place around the manger.
Although a little confused as to why they would bring weeds to the Baby Jesus, María and Pablo made their way to the church. Nervously, they entered the small doorway and approached the manger. As María and Pablo began placing the weeds in the hay surrounding the manger the villagers began to stare and some even laughed at them.
"Why are you placing those ugly weeds by the manger?" a woman asked. María and Pablo began to feel ashamed of their gift to the Baby Jesus until the weeds started to change before their eyes.
Before their eyes, green turned to red and ugly weeds became beautiful bright red flowers. María and Pablo felt ashamed no more as the laughter subsided and the villagers stared in amazement as the crimson star shaped flowers bloomed around the manger.
It was a miracle! María and Pablo gave the Baby Jesus the only gift they could and it became the most special gift of all, "The Flower of the Holy Night." Until this day, the poinsettia has become a symbol of Christmas and the Legend of the Poinsettia continues.