Christmas Flowers: Symbols of Life and Culture
If you are staying home for the holidays and looking for a way to make home bloom with color without involving the electric bill, consider using Christmas Flowers. Do not just look at those steeped in tradition. Other flowers not often thought of at Christmas time can still make your holidays glisten.
Everybody is, of course, familiar with the poinsettia. In addition to the traditional red, the poinsettia now comes in white and pink. Utilize each different poinsettia color to create a stunning display in any area of your home or office. It is an inexpensive way to make the holiday spirit come alive.
The poinsettia also has a rich history. It starts with the Aztec culture that commonly referred to the plant by the name of Cuetlaxochtl that translates into “skin flower” or “flower of leather petals”. This culture looked to the poinsettia as a symbol of purity and new life. Aztec legend says that warriors who died in battle would return to earth to sip the poinsettia’s nectar. Another culture to honor the poinsettia is the Mexicans. Here the flower is referred to as “The Flower of the Holy Night”. During the 14th to 16th century, red dye from the plant was utilized to create fever reducing medication. This is how the plant now became known as the “Christmas Flower” throughout North America.
Another favorite Christmas Flower is the Christmas cactus. It comes in a wide variety of colors, including red, white, pink, violet, yellow and salmon. Each color can create quite an exciting display when clustered together. A great display location for this colorful arrangement would be in a foyer or other prominent corner of the room. This flower is a great selection for a hanging Christmas Gift Basket. It also goes by the name ‘orchid cactus’ whose sweeping arms design has been known to produce over 100 blossoms per plant.
Add an unusual touch to your Christmas Gift Baskets display by choosing some Star of Bethlehem blossoms to decorate your home. A flower from the lily family, the Star of Bethlehem has more elongated petals than other variations of lilies. Pure white, the Star of Bethlehem is native to Illinois, as well as Europe and parts of the Middle East.
Consider a rather unknown flower such as the protea. These come in a gallant array of bold colors, with petals that make crown-like displays around their large eyes. Legend has it that the flower got its name from the Greek god Proteus, who was known to come to earth in various shapes. The protea can also come in other shapes. Online retailers such as 1800flowers.com can help create the perfect gifts for loved ones.
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