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More info on poinsettias
www.xmas-star.info

Stars for Europe

The poinsettia as a potent symbol for sparkling Christmas days

Christmas in Europe: stockings hanging over the fireplace, Advent calendars, the Three Kings and the warm glow of Advent wreaths, decorated Christmas trees, the Christmas Eve Feast and a table covered with gifts. The traditions and customs which epitomise Christmas in Europe are as many and as varied as the people who celebrate the festival.

Decorative plants also form part of the Christmas tradition. Europeans have for centuries been decking their homes with twigs and branches from conifers and decorating Christmas trees. Alternatively, evergreens are not the only way to create a bit of Christmas spirit. All across Europe, the poinsettia, or Star of Bethlehem as it also known, lives up to its name and acts as a shining beacon of Yuletide days approaching.

Ever since Joel Poinsett, the first US ambassador to Mexico, brought back the poinsettia from South America about 200 years ago, this late bloomer has been regarded as the classic 'Christmas' plant. Regardless of how Christmas traditions may vary in different regions, the poinsettia has since firmly taken root in Yuletide decorations the world over.


Who's afraid of 'Zwarte Piet'?

Christmas is regarded everywhere as a family festival. Communal feasting, the giving of gifts, singing carols and going to Midnight Mass are part and parcel of this time of year. Rooms and windows are decorated as a means of expressing and demonstrating personal emotions.

The origins of the festival are rooted in a combination of the religious, the pagan and the secular. In spite of these shared roots, the days of Christmas are celebrated in very many varied ways across Europe.

Many of these customs are familiar - the feast of St. Nicholas which falls on the 6th December, for example, has been commemorated widely since the 12th century. When he makes his rounds distributing little gifts to good children, St. Nicholas (who is also known as Sinterklaas, Samichlaus, Nicholas, Zinterklos or Sünnerklaas) is accompanied by different helpers depending on the region in question. In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas is assisted by Zwarte Piet or Black Peter. Krampus helps out in Austria and the Schmutzli hop along beside Samichlaus in Switzerland.

However, there are also many traditions which diverge greatly from our local customs. In Italy, the Christmas tree is not the focus of attention during the festival. This honour is bestowed upon the elaborately decorated crib. One of the most important Christmas days in Sweden is the feast day of St. Lucy which falls on 13th December. In France, 'Le Réveillon' or Christmas Eve Feast is celebrated as the festival's high-point. In Poland, Christmas trees are lavishly decorated with hand-made toys and trinkets while Christmas in England just wouldn't be the same without Christmas pudding, mince pies and turkey.


Poinsettias a must

As a well-established feature of the days of Advent and Christmas throughout the countries of Europe, the poinsettia speaks an international language: it fits in with many Yuletide traditions around the world no matter how different they may be. The poinsettia blossoms in many different hues and tones. Sometimes it comes across as traditional but can also appear surprisingly modern, illustrating its versatility. Whether as a wonderfully blossomed and lovingly decorated Advent calendar, a modern table decoration, a flowered Advent wreath, a lavish Christmas table pyramid or stylish fireplace decoration: poinsettias have come to be regarded the world over, as an indispensable Christmas accessory.

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