Candlemas Bells

Snowdrops are now starting to flower giving hope that winter will soon give way to spring. 

The Snowdrop, in purest white array,

First rears her head on Candlemas day.

In some areas snowdrops have been in bloom for a while although locally many are still in bud but their alternative name of Candlemas Bells is appropriate on today’s Candlemas Day.

According to legend; the snowdrop became the symbol of hope when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. When Eve was about to give up hope that the cold winters would never end, an angel appeared. She transformed some of the snowflakes into snowdrop flowers, proving that the winters do eventually give way to the spring.

The snowdrop’s botanical name is Galanthus nivalis, derived from the Greek words for ‘milk’ (gala) and ‘flower’ (anthos), and Latin nivalis for ‘snowy’  Other names include Candlemas Bells, February Fairmaids, Dingle-dangle, Mary's Tapers,  Eve’s Tears and Snow Piercers.

Candlemas used to be an important Christian festival and commemorated the purification of Mary and presentation of the baby Jesus into the Temple. Until  gas and electric power were in use candles were very important and on February 2  candles were blessed in churches.

Snowdrops symbolize hope while Christians consider them to be a symbol of Christ bringing hope to the world.

Meanwhile if the saying is to be believed here we can hope for neither a dreadful spell of wintry weather nor a very mild end as today was dry but dull.