This is a Mexican Folktale told to me when I was working at a Catholic School (Wahiawa, Oahu) by the Principal as I was about to tell stories at the Christmas Mass. 'Now go out there and share it with the folks'... I did, and still do with this intentionally colorful visual puppet show. Here's an abbreviated version. I start by holding up a poinsettia blossom (plastic), with its red leaves. And then I begin the show.

In Mexico, a Catholic country, all the people go to the Christmas Eve Mass, and on Christmas, the next day, they receive their presents.  Grandmama and Pedro, her little grandson, were walking through the little streets to go to the Mass.

"Pedro! Why do you walk so slow? There won't be a seats left in the church for my old bones to sit on!"

'Grandmama', said Pedro,'When we get to the church everyone gives presents to the baby Jesus, si? I HAVE NO PRESENT for the baby Jesus' and burst into tears. 'Pedro... Jesus is the Son of God! He has everything, but one thing: your love! Give him anything, but give it with love! That's what Jesus wants for Christmas from you, Pedro. ME? I want you to walk faster so I can find a seat! Come, Pedro, come!"

Pedro followed, and saw a little plant growing out of the wall. "You are small, and beautiful in your way. I will give you to the Baby Jesus with all of my heart." He plucked the plant and walked into the square.

OH, SO MANY PEOPLE! And the Iglesia, the Church brightly blazed with lights... Pedro had never seen anything so beautiful. Then the doors opened, the people went in, and Grandmama & Pedro ended up standing way in the back. Then the service began.

Pedro liked the choir music. Then there was a long speech and he didn't understand too much. When the organ played, people began to shuffle into a line, front pews first, then further back, and finally even Grandma & Pedro. Eventually, Pedro stood before the small baby laying in the straw in the front of the church. Oh, there were piles of gleaming presents on either side of the little child.

Pedro was a nervous, but he remembered what Grandmama had said. Pedro whispered, "Happy Birthday, baby Jesus! Here is my gift- it is small, like me... I will lay it here between the legs of your crib. I love you my baby Lord with all my heart." Pedro felt good.

Then things got confusing. A woman near him started screaming, 'Miracolo! Miracolo!" Other people were pointing, a woman fell to her knees weeping. Pedro hid his head between the folds of Grandmama's skirt.

Grandmama said, 'Pedro, look!" He turned to see that his small little plant somehow had begun to grow! It had sprouted limbs, had pushed all the other presents aside, had picked up the cresh with the baby, and held it high in it's boughs. It was now a tree filling the entire center of the church! And then, as all watched, all of the leaves of the plant suddenly all turned RED!

The story was passed by all who saw it from tongue to ear, and tongue to ear until it spead all around the world, even to the ears of a storyteller, who made a shadow puppet show, and now he has told it to you. This is the legend of the Poinsettia plant, and why we so often see it at Christmas celebrations surrounding trees and presents and our manger scenes. 

Yes, miracles happen! So now that you've heard the story, you can tell the tale too!