why is poinsettia associated with christmas

The poinsettia has been associated with Christmas for centuries, and its association with the holiday goes back to the 16th century. The poinsettia is a native plant of Mexico, and it was first brought to the United States by the botanist Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett. Dr. Poinsett was the first US ambassador to Mexico, and he brought the plant back to his home in South Carolina in 1825. He sent the plant to the Botanical Society of America, where it was identified as a new species. The poinsettia has been celebrated as a symbol of