Like Christmas trees, Santa, and reindeer, the poinsettia has long been a beloved symbol of the holiday season in the US and across Europe. However, as we delve deeper into the poinsettia’s origins, a complex history unfolds, shedding light on its namesake’s checkered past and prompting a reevaluation of its name.
The poinsettia owes its name to Joel Roberts Poinsett, an amateur botanist and statesman who served as the first US minister to the newly independent Mexico in 1828. Poinsett, with a keen interest in science and potential cash crops, discovered the plant during his tenure and sent clippings back to his home in South Carolina and to a botanist in Philadelphia. In gratitude, the botanist affixed Poinsett’s name to the plant.
However, Poinsett’s time in Mexico was short-lived, as he was eventually expelled from the country due to his reputation for intrusive political maneuvering and involvement in secretive masonic lodges and schemes to contain British influence. Despite his controversial legacy, a life-size bronze statue of Poinsett still stands in his honor in downtown Greenville, South Carolina.
Recent revelations about Poinsett’s life have caused many in the United States to question the continued use of the name “poinsettia.” Unvarnished accounts depict Poinsett as a disruptive advocate for business interests abroad, a slaveholder on a rice plantation in the US, and a secretary of war who played a role in the forced removal of Native Americans, including the tragic “Trail of Tears.”
In her biography titled “Flowers, Guns and Money,” historian Lindsay Schakenbach Regele paints a nuanced picture of Poinsett, describing him as a political and economic pragmatist who colluded with British bankers and conspired with a Chilean independence leader. While Poinsett opposed secession, his treatment of and regard for Indigenous peoples is heavily criticized.
The plant itself has a rich history that predates Poinsett’s discovery. The cultivation of the poinsettia dates back 500 years to the Aztec empire in Mexico. Among Nahuatl-speaking communities, the plant is known as the cuetlaxochitl, meaning “flower that withers.” This name aptly describes the thin red leaves on wild varieties of the plant, which can grow to heights above 10 feet (3 meters).
In Latin America, year-end holiday markets are filled with potted poinsettias known as the “flor de Nochebuena,” or “flower of Christmas Eve.” This name traces its roots to early Franciscan friars from Spain who arrived in the 16th century. Spaniards once referred to the plant as “scarlet cloth.”
Additional nicknames for the poinsettia abound across different Latin American countries. In Mexico, it is called “Santa Catarina,” while in Argentina, it is known as “estrella federal,” or “federal star.” In Peru, it goes by the name “penacho de Incan,” meaning “headdress.”
Amidst the growing awareness of its complicated history, a new trend is emerging among Mexican youths, including the diaspora in the US. Many are embracing the plant’s Indigenous name, “cuetlaxochitl,” as a way to honor its true origins. This shift reflects a desire to acknowledge the cultural significance of the plant and move away from a name associated with a controversial figure.
The poinsettia, scientifically known as “Euphorbia pulcherrima,” meaning “the most beautiful” in Latin, belongs to a diverse genus with a milky sap of latex. Its vibrant red leaves continue to captivate and bring joy during the holiday season.
As we reflect on the poinsettia’s journey from its Indigenous roots to becoming a cherished symbol of the holidays, it is essential to recognize and respect its complex history. Embracing the cuetlaxochitl name alongside its other monikers allows us to celebrate the plant’s beauty while honoring its origins and the cultures that have cherished it for centuries.
Source: The Manila Times
