It is very "German" to have a least one poinsettia, preferably red, over Christmas, and guests bring them also.
One reason I was told was that it was a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, which led the three magi, or wise men, to the place where Christ was born. And of course there have been relics (supposedly) of the Three Kings lying in Cologne for hundreds of years.
Managed to keep several going for many years, but the red bracts, the upper portion of the leaves, never regained their color. They grew and grew but remained stubbornly green.
Still looked attractive though.
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Francine McKenna-Klein - German Culture Editor
German Culture Site -
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