Maidenhead, Berkshire

Snowdrops

 

Fair Maids of February.

 

Snowdrops are associated with both the Virgin Mary and Eve.

Legend says that when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden,

Eve cried tears of repentance in the wilderness.

An Angel seeing them fall to the barren ground pitied her and turned them into snowdrops.

 

Candlemas Day 2nd February, has long honoured the Virgin Mary.

Candles are lit and snowdrops "Fair Maids of February" symbolic of purity, decorate churches.

 

This explains these old names for snowdrops -

Mary's Tapers and Candlemas Bells.

Done