Curiosity is a funny critter. The idea for this story began like a Christmas mouse stirring awake in the back of my mind. I was gazing at the fake Poinsettia tabletop tree I had just purchased, musing over “why or how” this flower had been introduced to the US—thusly inspiring it to become one of the more recognizable symbols of the Christmas season. All I am certain of is that it became my favorite winter bloomer after failing to keep a gifted Christmas Cactus alive. No amount of watering, drying or coaxing could resurrect the poor thing for a second season of even one flower. Admittedly, I was guilty of – killing it softly (as the song goes).
Naturally, as a writer, I love WORDS – all kinds, terms, shapes, and spellings. With curiosity taking a few skips and a hop or two, I soon noticed there was a link, but based upon dissimilarity; one a species with brilliant coloration; the other a term referencing red emotions; both connecting via folklore. A holiday favoite – POINSETTIA – a beautiful flowering species while the other -- POIGNANT – a flowery adjective; and both beginning with those quaint three lettere . . . P-O-I.
From that point, curiosity sent off on a quest for any particular symbolism for the Poinsettia flower. I did not find any references to the flower regarding magical use or from folklore in the books on symbolism I had handy. It grows naturally in Mexico and South America, known there as the flame-leaf flower or lobster plant because of the red coloring. Only if it tastes like a nice lobster tail dipped in melted butter, in my opinion, that is a rather unflattering name for the lovely plant with poisonous tendencies toward curious children and silly pets. The Aztecs considered the Poinsettia as a symbol of purity—I wonder if their blood sacrifices and purification rites might have a relationship to the flower’s symbolism since the points of the red leaves might suggest the flow of spilled blood with a little tweaking of the imagination. The Aztecs also call the Poinsettia the “skin flour” because of the deep red dye made from it, as well as a medicine to reduce fevers.
Still as interesting as that was, my curiosity was just not satisfied as to how the flower could be related to the word with a similar first three letters – poignant. I have to admit that root words from Latin or other languages as they translate into English is not my forte’ so I resorted simply to the dictionary for a meaning, wondering if that might point to the connection my little brain had made. At first look, the meaning of the word appeared completely unrelated to the symbolism . . . then, I looked again . . . Poignant: a. profoundly moving, touching, b. something physically painful. Another source gave the definition as “having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies, such as a love story that ends in tragedy.
Aha, that is the connection! There is a remarkable link between those two words, after all. The favored Christmas flower is featured in the decoration in nearly every holiday special movie and so it gives me an idea of its intriguing connection between the two words, but in a very different way than simple symbolism or their root word “poin—“.
It is not important if scholars or biologists connect the two, but I shall through the joining of Christmas themes in stories and movies that always bring a surge of emotion and often a few tears for their message of love, hope and occasionally a tragic experience. If only we could wave a metaphoric wand to set the flame-flower ablaze with our own poignant memories from the past and even present experiences. Would those three letters prove as a root word or rather link word to stir our hearts with thoughts of either love or painful experiences that make life so rich and connect us to each other in extraordinary ways? Alas, so I shall leave the Poignant Poinsettia to speak its blessed message of love and/or pain, depending upon our soul’s need of the moment. Since the Poinsettia elicits the most profound emotions, especially during the Christmas season with a golden stamen at its center, which reminds us of what sparks our heart (center) and relates our thoughts to the many beautiful messages presented by the many Christmas specials (movies and cartoons, alike). Through those the “poignant” emotions emerge with bittersweet and warmest messages of the season and for the future with family and friends. No matter the problems, painful events or dark side of poignancy that we must deal with throughout the rest of the year, I think the Poinsettia is nature’s first gift of Christmas (like Santa offers the boy in “The Polar Express”) … one more precious than silver or gold with deep crimson leaves that magically touch our heart. If we let their blazing red, imaginatively burn away sadness and/or illness. My prayers are for blessings for the restoration of peace in our world of all kinds and most needed blessings for peace from Spirit/Source , , , for the Cosmic Balance of Ma’at (Egyptian neter of harmony).
Merry Christmas to Everyone and a Happy Prosperous New Year!
Naturally, as a writer, I love WORDS – all kinds, terms, shapes, and spellings. With curiosity taking a few skips and a hop or two, I soon noticed there was a link, but based upon dissimilarity; one a species with brilliant coloration; the other a term referencing red emotions; both connecting via folklore. A holiday favoite – POINSETTIA – a beautiful flowering species while the other -- POIGNANT – a flowery adjective; and both beginning with those quaint three lettere . . . P-O-I.
From that point, curiosity sent off on a quest for any particular symbolism for the Poinsettia flower. I did not find any references to the flower regarding magical use or from folklore in the books on symbolism I had handy. It grows naturally in Mexico and South America, known there as the flame-leaf flower or lobster plant because of the red coloring. Only if it tastes like a nice lobster tail dipped in melted butter, in my opinion, that is a rather unflattering name for the lovely plant with poisonous tendencies toward curious children and silly pets. The Aztecs considered the Poinsettia as a symbol of purity—I wonder if their blood sacrifices and purification rites might have a relationship to the flower’s symbolism since the points of the red leaves might suggest the flow of spilled blood with a little tweaking of the imagination. The Aztecs also call the Poinsettia the “skin flour” because of the deep red dye made from it, as well as a medicine to reduce fevers.
Still as interesting as that was, my curiosity was just not satisfied as to how the flower could be related to the word with a similar first three letters – poignant. I have to admit that root words from Latin or other languages as they translate into English is not my forte’ so I resorted simply to the dictionary for a meaning, wondering if that might point to the connection my little brain had made. At first look, the meaning of the word appeared completely unrelated to the symbolism . . . then, I looked again . . . Poignant: a. profoundly moving, touching, b. something physically painful. Another source gave the definition as “having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies, such as a love story that ends in tragedy.
Aha, that is the connection! There is a remarkable link between those two words, after all. The favored Christmas flower is featured in the decoration in nearly every holiday special movie and so it gives me an idea of its intriguing connection between the two words, but in a very different way than simple symbolism or their root word “poin—“.
It is not important if scholars or biologists connect the two, but I shall through the joining of Christmas themes in stories and movies that always bring a surge of emotion and often a few tears for their message of love, hope and occasionally a tragic experience. If only we could wave a metaphoric wand to set the flame-flower ablaze with our own poignant memories from the past and even present experiences. Would those three letters prove as a root word or rather link word to stir our hearts with thoughts of either love or painful experiences that make life so rich and connect us to each other in extraordinary ways? Alas, so I shall leave the Poignant Poinsettia to speak its blessed message of love and/or pain, depending upon our soul’s need of the moment. Since the Poinsettia elicits the most profound emotions, especially during the Christmas season with a golden stamen at its center, which reminds us of what sparks our heart (center) and relates our thoughts to the many beautiful messages presented by the many Christmas specials (movies and cartoons, alike). Through those the “poignant” emotions emerge with bittersweet and warmest messages of the season and for the future with family and friends. No matter the problems, painful events or dark side of poignancy that we must deal with throughout the rest of the year, I think the Poinsettia is nature’s first gift of Christmas (like Santa offers the boy in “The Polar Express”) … one more precious than silver or gold with deep crimson leaves that magically touch our heart. If we let their blazing red, imaginatively burn away sadness and/or illness. My prayers are for blessings for the restoration of peace in our world of all kinds and most needed blessings for peace from Spirit/Source , , , for the Cosmic Balance of Ma’at (Egyptian neter of harmony).
Merry Christmas to Everyone and a Happy Prosperous New Year!
