How did the poinsettia and mistletoe become part of the holiday season?
Poinsettia and mistletoe – are two very different plants that have gained popularity as decorations for the holidays.
The poinsettia, one of the most popular winter holiday flowers are a decorator's dream due to its bright colors of red, pink and white. They have brightened up the holidays since the early 1800s.
Mistletoe has been considered a magical plant for holiday lovers in hopes of sharing a kiss beneath its branches. It is linked to peace, power, life and fertility.
These two plants have an interesting connection to the holiday season, we explain:
Why the poinsettia is a Christmas star?
The poinsettia, with its vibrant colors, has long been part of our seasonal décor since 1828 when it made its way to the U.S. with the help of Joel Robert Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico – whom the plant is named - brought them back to his home state of South Carolina.
In Mexico, it is known as "Flor de Nochebuena" or Christmas Eve's flower. “According to Mexican lore, a young child named Pepita didn't have a gift for baby Jesus," says David Hillock of Oklahoma State University Extension. “All she had to offer was a hand-picked bouquet of weeds,” he said. “Angels felt compassion for the girl, and after she placed the flowers at the nativity on Christmas Eve they transformed the weeds into beautiful red flowers. Legend says this is why red and green are the colors of Christmas today.”
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Are poinsettias poisonous?
The poinsettia may have gotten its bad reputation for being considered poisonous to humans in 1919, according to Harvard Health Publishing, when a child of an army officer was said to have died after consuming a portion of a poinsettia plant. Whether the plant was to blame is unknown.
A survey of almost 23,000 cases of people consuming poinsettia published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine revealed there were no fatalities. In almost all cases, 96% didn't need any outside medical care, while 92% had no symptoms at all.
The plant may be mildly toxic to your pets. The dangers of these plants rarely lead to fatal or serious outcomes, says the American Kennel Club. The sap in poinsettias contains chemicals similar to those in detergents. If ingested in large amounts, the sap can lead to vomiting, drooling, or, in some cases, diarrhea. Poinsettias have a low toxicity level.
Mistletoe: The Origins of a Christmas kiss tradition
Kissing underneath a sprig of mistletoe, with its waxy green leaves and white berries, is a Christmas tradition firmly planted in magic and folklore.
The romantic meaning of the plant is thought to have originated with the Celtic Druids of the first century A.D., according to History.com. Since mistletoe could bloom in the depths of winter, the Druids saw it as a magical sign of life. They would give it to both humans and animals in the hopes of restoring fertility.
During holidays, marriages, and other special occasions in the Victorian era, the placement of a "kissing" ball, made up of ribbons and mistletoe, was used as decorations to symbolize love and devotion.
Is mistletoe poisonous?
Yes. Mistletoe contains a toxin called phoratoxin, which can be found in all parts of the plant, especially the leaves. If consumed, it can cause weakness, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, blurred vision and sometimes seizures, which can affect all parts of the body.
Try to keep mistletoe plants out of the reach of small children and pets. If a child or pet consumes it, it's best to check with poison control (800-222-1222), your physician, or your veterinarian for medical advice.
Contributing, Olivia Munson, Paste BN.
SOURCE AgAmerica.com, Harvard Health Publishing, Oklahoma State University Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension, Michigan State University and U.S. Geological Society