Bright star of Bethlehem

This is my poinsettia. I do nt usually buy one at Christmas but this one looked really healthy and was only £1.50 and I thought it might come in handy for a blip.
I liked the way the sun hit the leaves creating shadows.

The poinsettia plants are native to Central America, especially the area around Mexico. The bracts, special red leaves, show during the winter months and are also called the Flower of the holy night.
The Aztecs used the bracts to colour clothes purple and also the milky sap , latex, was made into a medicine to ease fever. This sap can cause allergies so beware if you have pets !
Decemeber 12th is Poinsettia day which makes the death of American Joel Roberts Poinsett who introduced the plant into the country in 1828.


There is an old Mexican legend which tells of a poor girl and boy called Pepita and Pedro who was very poor but wanted to visit the new born King and give him a present. They felt that that could nt visit empty handed so picked some weeds from the roadside to decorate the crib and make a soft bed.
The other children who had bought expensive gifts laughed and pointed at Pepita and Pedro when all of a sudden the leaves burst into red star shaped petals. Everyone was amazed believing they had seen a miracle and realised that a gift of love is dearer to Jesus than anything money can buy !

The shape of the leaves do look star shaped and thought to resemble the Star of Bethlehem. The red coloured leaves represent the blood of Christ.

This song is all about the Star of Bethlehem.

Todays Yule Lad is Pot Scraper or pot licker, he would snatch away pots that had not been washed and would lick the insides clean.