When you take a look around Almeria, or any Spanish town during Christmas time, one sight you are sure to see is the bright bloom of La Flor de Pascua, The Pascua Flower.
Known in English as the Poinsettia, a quarter of all these plants are cultivated in Almeria, where the warm climate allows them to be grown under plastic without the use of additional heating. But how and when was this tradition born in Spain?
La Flor de Pascua rooted itself in Spanish culture around thirty years ago, when cuttings arrived in the country from Africa, and many farmers in Almeria swapped tomatoes and peppers for the ornamental plants. Now, the province produces around 2.5 million poinsettias every year.
The tradition of planting, displaying, and giving La Flor de Pascua at Christmas unites people of all nationalities and backgrounds. It is a universal gesture of love and appreciation that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. When you gift this plant, you are sharing the spirit of Christmas.
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