How to Make a Mexican Christmas Centerpiece
Celebrating Christmas in Mexico is the same as it is when celebrating in the United States, except that the Mexican culture places more significance on the poinsettia, which is sometimes known as the flame leaf. According to tradition, everyone must make an offering to the Christ Child and legend says that a poor Mexican girl gave a bouquet of green leaves, which turned into the poinsettia. Most centerpieces used in this culture today revolve around this plant, but also incorporate other colorful accents. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Poinsettia plants
- Glass containers
- Metallic paper
- Christmas ornaments
- Pine cones
- Green leaves
- Spray snow (optional)
Instructions
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Pick between artificial poinsettias and real poinsettias. Depending on where you live, you may discover that it's easier to find the artificial plants. You'll also want to pick artificial plants if you plan on keeping the centerpiece for future Christmas celebrations or giving it as a gift.
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Find containers for holding the poinsettia plants. Use a neutral color that lets the bright red color of the plant pop, such as white or even clear glass. You can also use multiple containers of different heights and shapes to create more contrast in the center of the table.
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Add a layer of metallic paper to the bottom of the container, especially if you're using clear glass, as guests can see into the container. Look for paper shreds, which are similar to Easter grass or use regular tissue paper if you choose colored containers.
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Decorate the inside and top of the containers with things that remind you of Christmas, but also add more color to the centerpiece. Christmas ornaments and pine cones add both color and texture to your table. Add a few green leaves to act as a cushion for the poinsettia.
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Place your poinsettia directly on top of the green leaves. The brightness of the red flowers against the other colors in the centerpiece makes a statement on your dining room table. Lightly dust the top with spray snow if you like.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're using real poinsettia plants, place the plant inside the container first and lay your decorations around the sides. Try using multiple plants, which gives everyone at the table something to look at.
References
- Photo Credit poinsettia image by Grits72 from Fotolia.com
