Snowdrops Bring Hope!

Galanthus nivalis
Poisonous
​Named “milk flower of the snow” by Swedish botanist
​Carl Linnaeus in 1753.

Gender: Feminine
Element: Water
Planet: Saturn

The snowdrop is a segue between winter and spring, symbolizing hope, even in the most challenging situations. This precious herb is associated with magic and miracles, divine love, purity and innocence. You’ll often  find it at weddings, encouraging a future filled with the promise of everlasting love. 

The snow drop is also associated with death, as it was often found in graveyards. The ancient Greeks noted Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, carried snowdrops when she returned from  Hades each spring. Its association with death is the reason it is often found at funerals and featured on sympathy cards. 

Folk names echo  the flower’s contradictory symbolism. It has been called the the Flower of Hope,  Mary’s Taper, Candlemas Bells and Eve’s Tears. On a more somber note, it is  called  Death  Flower.. In Victorian England, seeing a single snowdrop indicated there would  be a death. It was bad luck to pick  a snowdrop, and bringing it into the house would have dire  consequences. Regardless of its names, it is always  a harbinger of spring, bringing  hope  for  the end  of winter and warmer days ahead.