With its vivid hues, the poinsettia has been an iconic part of our seasonal décor since it arrived in the U.S. in 1828 thanks to Joel Robert Poinsett, the first American ambassador to Mexico, who brought the plant back to his native state of South Carolina. Poinsettias are native to Central America – in southern Mexico, they thrive in an area called "Taxco de Alarcon." Did you know that poinsettias were native to Central America?

Poinsettias come in shades of white, pink, and the classic bright red. Other varieties have speckled red and white, orange and cinnamon. There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias. The Paul Ecke Ranch located in Encinitas, California, grows more than 70% of the poinsettias that are purchased in the U.S. Do you buy poinsettias during the holidays?

A Christmas custom deeply rooted in magic and folklore is kissing beneath a twig of mistletoe, with its glossy leafy foliage and berries. The Celtic Druids of the first century A.D. are credited with giving the plant its romantic connotations, according to History.com. The Druids regarded mistletoe as a mystical symbol of life since it could bloom even in the dead of winter. With the aim of restoring fertility, they would give it to both humans and animals. Do you think mistletoe still holds mystical or symbolic value today?

In the Victorian era, a "kissing" ball, composed of ribbons and mistletoe, was placed as a decoration to represent love and devotion for holidays, marriages, and other important occasions. Do you have mistletoe or "kissing balls" in your home for the holidays?