Candlemas Bells

A sign of hope at an often bitterly cold time of year, snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) earned their name from the combination of two Greek and Latin words.  Galanthus, from the ancient Greek means milk white flower, while the Latin word nivalis means resembling snow. 

Although formally considered "native", snowdrops are actually recent arrivals. Their first known cultivation was in 1597 and they were first recorded in the wild in 1778 in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. They are widely naturalised with little change thought to be occurring.

Christians dedicate this wildflower to the Virgin Mary. On Candlemas Day (2nd February) snowdrops were once scattered in place of her image on the altar. On a more practical note, galanthamine, an alkaloid found in the snowdrop flower, is currently approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s in several countries. It may be effective in treating diseases of the nervous system and is being studied for its effectiveness in treating HIV.