It’s National Poinsettia Day

The flower most associated with the Christmas season is the Poinsettia, and today is National Poinsettia Day. (Some people pronounce it Poinsetta or Poinsettia). How did National Poinsettia Day come about?

According to poinsettiaday.com:

"December 12th is Poinsettia Day. The date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American botanist, physician and Minister to Mexico who in 1828 sent cuttings of the plant he'd discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, South Carolina.

In July of 2002, the House of Representatives created Poinsettia Day, passing a Resolution to honor Paul Ecke Jr. who is considered the father of the poinsettia industry. It may come as a surprise to hear that every year, Poinsettias contribute upwards of $250,000,000 to the U.S. economy-at the wholesale level!"