nochebuena

courtesy of urbanext.illinois.edu

Merry Christmas Eve.!! Feliz Nochebuena.!! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.!! And for those of you who are expecting presents from Santa, I hope he’s good to you 🙂 Before, I go and enjoy the festivities, I think a history lesson might be in order. Nochebuena directly translates into ‘a good night.’ However, it indirectly translates into Christmas Eve.! But nochebuena also has another very important meaning.! It is our traditional Christmas flower – the poinsettia.!!

Nochebuena originated in Mexico.!! Originally, it was used by the Aztecs for it’s deep red color in dyes and in purity rituals. Mexicans began to use the flower in holiday celebrations during the 16th to 18th centuries also because of it’s deep vibrant color. But also because it’s flowering season directly coincided with the holiday one 🙂 During the presidency of James Monroe, a botanical expert by the name of Joel Roberts Pointsett was named prime minister of the United States in Mexico (ambassadorships were to follow later).

I’m sure you can figure out the rest dear reader just by good ole’ Joel’s last name. Pointsett took nochebuena back to the states and renamed it poinsettia.!! And the rest is Christmas history my dear friends.!! Nochebuena is now one of the biggest symbols of the Christmas season.!! Most poinsettias in the U.S. originate on Mexican farms. So it all comes full circle.! Merry Christmas.!! ¡Feliz Navidad! Please enjoy Jose Feliciano’s Feliz Navidad.!! See you over the weekend 🙂