Crazy for Christmas

Crazy for Christmas

Poinsettias are a flower traditionally associated with Christmas.

This is due in part to their festive red and green coloring and the fact that they flower in winter, and in part to a Mexican Christmas story. In the tale, a little girl has no money to buy Christmas gifts in the celebration of Christ’s Birthday, so she gathers some weeds from the side of the road.

In the middle of these a beautiful red flower appears and becomes the first ever poinsettia. The shape of the poinsettia leaves represents Christmas star, while the redness of the flower symbolizes the sacrifice that the Lord made when his only begotten son was crucified.
The red flowers are called bracts, and can be used to make some beautiful Christmas decorations.

• Cut free one bract with about an inch of stem still attached. Seal off the stem by
searing it over a candle flame to stop the milky sap from dripping out. Glue a red
ribbon to the flower.

• Use red glitter glue to draw designs on the flower and ribbon and then tie the
stem with green wire to make a loop. You can now hang your beautiful poinsettia
Christmas craft from your beautiful Christmas tree.

• Press a few of the bracts between the pages of a heavy book for a week or two. Get
a plain, flat picture frame and some watered down PVA glue. Paint the bracts onto
the frame with the glue and allow to dry, creating a wonderfully unique decoupage
picture frame in minutes.

A center-piece can make or break a Christmas table.
Using poinsettias will certainly guarantee an enchanting Christmas dinner table for you and your guests.

Take an odd number of stems (three or five works best) and a clear glass vase. Fill the vase
with festive greenery and other items such as cinnamon sticks, holly and pine cones. Add the
poinsettia stems at the end to add height to your arrangement for the dining table.