The Faya lobi or jungle flame (Ixora coccinea),                     Suriname's national flower

The red jungle flame national flower of Suriname

Hello Storytime readers, I am writing about a flower that has always fascinated me. You can find the "Faya lobi" as it is called in Sranang tongo (Native Surinamese language)in every part of Suriname. The Faya lobi is also known as the Jungle flame or Ixora coccinea. Faya lobi translates to burning love or hot love in English.  This flower is known as the national flower of Suriname. This shrub of flowers grows in different colors in the country. If you plan to visit Suriname you will surely come across a bush of Faya lobi's on your trip. The most commonly seen color is red. But there are other colors of Faya lobi bushes that you can come across.  There are over 500 known species of jungle geranium and they often grow in warm climates. Some other variants of the faya lobi that you might come across in Suriname are the white ones, the pink ones, and the yellow ones. This shrub grows easily and continuously gives flowers throughout the year.

The yellow Ixora coccinea flower

  They are often found in Surinamese gardens and are used as hedges or garden decorations.  Another common use for the jungle flame is its use in flower bouquets. It has become a Surinamese tradition to use the Ixora coccinea in bouquets as a gift for a birthday celebration. In this case, the red jungle flame is more frequently used. The flower can often be found in floral decorations during birthday celebrations. Bouquets made of these flowers are gifted as romantic flowers in the same way that westerners give their loved ones red roses. This shrub carries sweet round fruits that can be eaten or in my case have been eaten. During my childhood, I like most Surinamese children would eat these Faya lobi fruits. They have a sweet floral milky taste when they are ripe. You can notice if they are ripe by the dark purple color the fruit will have. If it's not ripe yet the fruits will be green. It has this sweet nectar that we would extract from it by pulling out a string from the middle of the flower. A drop of nectar would always come out attached to this string.  This string is called the style of the Ixora coccinea flower. Now that I have done the research on it, I know it seems weird. But in Suriname, most of the children have done this, and I am sure that my generation won't be the last to do so. To understand why the Faya lobi is the national flower of Suriname you must first get to know the country and its people.                             

                                      Where is Suriname?

For those of you who aren't familiar with Suriname, the country is located in South America and it's also a part of the Caribbean.  You can find it right between Guyana and French Guyana on the coast of South America and right above its neighboring country Brazil. This country is a part of the Guiana shield and a member country of the Caricom. The 1.7 billion-year-old Guiana shield is a geological formation in northeast South America that forms a portion of the northern coast. The capital of the republic Suriname is Paramaribo, also known as the city of smiles. This country was previously a Dutch colony for a major part of its history. The British and Spanish ruling over this country lasted for a short while. Suriname gained independence on the 25th of November 1975. A large part of this South American country is covered with the Amazonian rainforest. The country is famous for its diverse flora and fauna. Many important plant and animal species have been found in its natural reserves. Like most South American countries, it houses many endangered animals and plants. The country is rich in natural resources, for example, Gold, wood, diamond bauxite, and other minerals. The country Suriname is also known for its multi-cultural society where multiple languages are spoken but the main language is Dutch. It is the only country in the world where a synagogue and a mosque are located right next to each other.  The city of Paramaribo is a statement of its dutch colonial history and has made it on the Unesco World Heritage list as a Historic city. The origin of its diverse culture lies in its history. But that's for another Storytime since this countries history cannot be told in one story.  A lot of countries and people don't know about Suriname. But when you look back at its history this small South American country has played a major role in the history of the world.

                            The culture in Suriname

This map is not the one Surinamese use

 

 The country has a diverse culture because of its multi-ethnic society. Throughout time these cultures have shared each other's traditions, culture, religion, and thankfully their food. Keep in mind that the map of Suriname that you use depends on perspective. Some ongoing border disputes have not yet been settled with its neighbor Guyana.  Suriname uses a different map than the rest of the world.  The country has many diverse ethnic inhabitants as its citizens that also practice different religions. Some of the religions that are practiced in Suriname are:

1. Christianity 

2. Judaism

3. Hindoeisme

4. Kejawen (Agama Jawa)

5. Bhoedisme 

6.Islam

More religions are practiced in the country, but these are the most practiced ones.  Because of the religious and cultural diversity, the country also has a lot of national holidays. If there is one thing to be said about Surinamese people it is that they love to party. That is why it comes naturally to celebrate each other's holidays.  Our cultures are so intertwined that we share the love for the different aspects of each other's cultures. I know Chinese people that love Javanese food. But I also know Javanese people who adore Indian music. I will have to show you examples of my many future adventures that I plan to share with you guys.  Sometimes I have more time for adventures than I have time for my blog. Oke, you caught me in my lie, don't be picky. I always have more time for adventures than I have for my blog. I guess if you really want to feel the warmth and love that the different cultures in this small South American country have to offer, you have to experience it for yourself.  So do not hesitate once you get the opportunity. 

                             Why the faya lobi is the countries national flower?

A pink Ixora coccinea shrub growing in the wild tropical Amazonian Surinamese jungle

If you ask me why I think the faya lobi has become Suriname's self-proclaimed national flower, I will give you my perspective of it. The faya lobi stands out in the jungle due to its bright colors. It's a shrub but at the same time, it immediately attracts attention, even when it's growing in the wild. The country has them in different colors and each variant always manages to capture the attention of your eyesight. The colors are different but the shrub is the same. Just in the same way that the beautiful people in Suriname might all look different, but their hearts still offer hospitality warmth, and kindness. The faya lobi flower is used to symbolize the burning love that we share with each other. The way the flower captures attention in the middle of the tropical gardens it adds color to a green surrounding. We, Surinamese people, add color to Latin America and the Caribbean. We are different but one at the same time, no matter where in the world we settle down to grow.