The Sinulog flower

CEBU, Philippines - While the Sinulog's standing as the grandest cultural and religious festival in the country is widely considered to be common knowledge by many, not everyone is privy to the fact that there actually is an Official Sinulog Flower—one that bears the colors that are prominent in the cape of the Señor Sto Niño.

Generically known as the celosia, it took more than a decade before the flower was formally declared as the Official Sinulog Flower by the Cebu City Government in 2011, with its ties and value to the Sinulog known to date as early as year 2000.

A member of the small genus of edible and ornamental plants belonging to the amaranth family of annual or short-lived perennial plants, the celosia's red and yellow blooms are in tandem to the official colors of Sinulog, which are based on the colors of the Holy Child's cape.

As with most of the world's flora and fauna, the celosia is known to have its own share of alternative names, each taken from different translations in different languages.

"Flaming love" would be one of the more popular monikers linked to it, attributed to be inspired by the flower's flame-shaped head. "Cupid's arrow" would be another, again, noted to have been inspired by the celosia's shape.

In other parts of the world, its name is linked to a rooster's comb, given its shape. Its generic name—celosia—is taken from the Greek word that means "burned".

Like the Sto. Niño brought by Magellan to the Philippines, the Official Sinulog Flower is not a native of the country.

 Brought to Cebu by a delegation of Cebuanos who visited Haarlemmermeer, Netherlands in 1991, the celosia managed to capture the attention of the Cebuano team visiting Cebu's sister city, so that they brought celosia seedlings with them when they came home.

Surviving the country's climate, the celosia's full bloom cycle covers a period of three months, with its livid yellow, fuchsia and red blooms giving it an attractive value not readily found in other flower species.

With its vibrant hues standing out as startling complements to the official colors of Sinulog, the celosia naturally mirrors the Sinulog's vibrancy, effectively living up to its title as the Official Sinulog Flower, apart from heralding the Sinulog's standing as the grandest festival of its class in the Philippines.

celosia fast/fatcs

The celosia was formally declared the Official Sinulog Flower on October 21, 2011 by the Cebu City Hilly Land Management Board

In 2000, the Sinulog Foundation Inc had already labeled the celosia as the official Sinulog flower

When it was announced, the Official Sinulog Flower was called the "Halad sa Sto. Niño Flower"

Barangay Sirao is home to a number of celosia flower farms

The celosia can last up to two weeks after cutting

In some parts of the world, the celosia is used for medicinal purposes, often used as treatment for mouth sores