The bright red Poinsettias are traditionally associated with Christmas but apparently they are no longer quite as popular as they were.  This is partly because they are very susceptible to fluctuations of temperature particularly between the shop and home, whereas hyacinths are easy to look after.
The legend of the Poinsettia is about a poor Mexican girl who was upset because she had no gift to present the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve service. As she walked to the chapel with her cousin, Pedro she picked some weeds from the path side and he reassured her that they would be alright as they would be given with love.   As she placed them by the altar the weeds burst into brilliant red flowers.   Since then they have become known as were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloom each year during the Christmas season and so the legend of the poinsettia was born.