I grew up loving – what I called a Poinsettia – as holiday decor. As a teen, I used to walk around my neighborhood every year and sell the beautiful red and green plant as a way to raise money for the national charity where I volunteered. I have fond memories of walking around in the beautiful California sunshine so proud of the money I had raised.
This year has been eye opening for me, thanks to the many activists working hard to spread awareness and call others to action. I’ve been paying much more attention and reflecting on historical events and how they affect us today. Therefore it should go as no surprise when I wanted to gather more information about a seemingly simple plant associated with Christmas.
I’ll continue to purchase this plant and enjoy its beauty in the winter, but I will call it by its proper names. Mexicans call it Flor de Noche Buena and the Nahua people call it cuetlaxochitl.
Here is an excellent Washington Post article I recommend reading if you would like to learn more about the history behind how the cuetlaxochitl came to be known in the United States.
