Snowdrops ( Galanthus Nivalis ) earned their name from the combination of two Greek and Latin words. Galanthus from the ancient Greek means milk and white flower, while the Latin word nivalis means resembling snow. Carl Linnaeus classified the flower in 1753.

Botanical characteristics: There are over 20 species of the bulbous herbaceous plants. Most flower before the Vernol equinox to herald March.

The Snowdrop symbolises
The snowdrop flower has enjoyed a rich history that includes several legends about how the flower came to be. In the language of flowers it is synonymous with hope, purity, rebirth, consolation or sympathy.

According to legend, in the Garden of Eden, Eve was distraught after God had cast her out of the Garden of Eden. God sent forth continuous snow and the earth was cold and barren. As Eve sat weeping, an angel appeared to comfort her. The angel caught a snowflake and breathed upon it. The snowflake fluttered to earth and gave birth to the snowdrop. The delicate bloom came to symbolize hope and rebirth.

• In the United States the snowdrop shares its symbolism with the carnation, as they are both the birth flower for the month of January.
• It is the first spring flower and in Romaniathe snowdrop is known as Daughter of the Wind. According to legend, each year the sun took on the form of a young girl as it returned to warm the land in the spring. One year, winter refused to let go of his stronghold on the earth and took the girl hostage. A hero soon appeared to rescue his love from the grips of winter. A battle ensued, and the girl was set free, but not before the Hero was wounded. As the sun began to rise in the sky,Hero fell to the ground and drops of blood stained the earth. Tiny snowdrops burst forth in celebration of the return of spring. Romanians continue to honour the snowdrop as a symbol of the return of spring.
• In German legend, when God created snow, he gave the task of visiting the flowersof the earth to gather colours. All the flowers refused, until snow visited the gentle snowdrop. Seeing that the snowdrop was a kind and generous soul, the snow decided to make a deal. In exchange for her colour, the snow agreed to allow the snowdrop to bloom first every spring. The delicate snowdrop agreed and cheerfully blossoms amid the snow each year.
• Victorian Customs, not all cultures view the snowdrop as a symbol of hope and rebirth. For the Victorians, the snowdrop represented death and even considered it bad luck to bring snowdrops inside the home. The sight of a single snowdrop was seen as an omen of death.
• According to Moldovan legend, a fight between the Winter Witch and Lady Spring gave birth to the snowdrop. One year, the Winter Witch decided that she would not give up her reign of the earth when Lady Spring arrived. During the ensuing battle, Lady Spring pricked her figure and a drop of her blood fell to earth. The blood drop melted the snow and up sprung a tiny snowdrop, a sign that Lady Spring had won the battle with Winter Witch.

Where to see snowdrops
Churchyards are often full of snowdrops, planted to supply flowers for Candlemas. Candlemas(Candlemass) is celebrated 40 days after Christmas and is also the midpoint between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Celebrated in ancient times as the start of the agricultural season.
To see a mass of snowdrops in early spring visit locally Uffington churchyard, or at Easton Hill Gardens.