What day is it?

Snowflakes (lat. Galanthus) – early and especially gentle harbingers of spring. These are the first flowers after the long winter cold. Therefore, they are especially attractive with their fragile appearance, bright color and fragrant aroma.

In order to celebrate the first signs of spring with the appearance of these flowers, an international was created Snowdrop Day. On the territory of Ukraine, these plants appear as early as March. But in Great Britain – the country of origin of the holiday – flowers begin to break through the cold ground in mid-April. Therefore, since 1984, Snowdrop Day has been celebrated at the “equator” of spring.

How did the idea to celebrate Snow White Day come about?

The holiday itself appeared in Britain, it was celebrated for the first time on April 19, 1984. In England, these flowers are extremely popular and are treated with special care. Residents of Misty Albion believe that the snowdrops growing in the home flower garden will protect the family from evil spirits. That is why snowdrops are grown and bred in the UK with the same zeal as tulips in the Netherlands.

However, the popularity of snowdrops is due to the fact that they are the first flowers of spring, which announce that winter has given up its position and warmth has won over the cold.

Galanthus is a miracle of nature

People paid attention to the snowdrop as early as 1000 and considered it a guarantee of purity and integrity. The plant can be found in different parts of our planet. Depending on the climate, its flowering period can vary from mid-January to mid-April. There are many varieties of snowdrops, some of them are listed in the Red Book.

There are exactly 18 varieties of galanthus in the world. There are also natural hybrids.

The most common types

• White snowdrops, they are also called snow-white galanthus. It is a white flower that begins to bloom the earliest and has the longest flowering period. These plants are 10 cm long and have delicate white flowers with a spot of yellow in the center. They have a bright aroma.
• Snowdrifts are most common. They can be seen in the forest zones of Central Europe. These are plants up to 15 cm long with flat leaves and white bell-shaped flowers.
• Elves snowdrops grow in Asia Minor. In general, these are large flowers up to 20-25 cm high with wide green-blue leaves. The inflorescences themselves are also quite large and have a spherical shape.

The name of snowdrop in different languages

In Latin, the plant is called “Galanthus”, which literally means milk flower.

In German, a snowdrop is called “snowbell”, in English – “snowdrop”, in Czech – “snowflake”. The Ukrainian name “snowflake” indicates that, in the literal sense of the word, it breaks out from under the snow. And indeed, there is still snow on the lawn, and the warm rays of the sun awaken this fragile flower to life.

Legends about snowdrops

These flowers are mentioned in the works of Homer, they became a reliable protection for Odysseus, because they turned away from him the anger and curse of the sorceress Circe.

The story about our first parents – Adam and Eve – is quite common and popular. It is said that after their banishment, it began to snow on Earth. The first couple sadly remembered the warmth and comfort of the Garden of Eden, and Eve even cried. Touched by her tears, God turned the snowflakes into elegant flowers. They became the hope of salvation for people.

Another legend tells us about the goddess of flowers – Flora. She had to prepare her wards for the carnival ball. In this regard, she selected appropriate costumes. Snow also expressed a desire to take part in the solemn holiday, with this request he turned to the flowers. However, all the plants refused to help him because they were afraid of the cold, and only the snowdrops agreed to soak in the snow-white blanket.

Residents of Kyivan Rus had their own beliefs about snowdrops. These flowers have long been considered here as a symbol of courage and valor. After all, when winter did not want to retreat and continued to fight with spring, the flowers refused to support spring and did not bloom, fearing the cold. Only the snowdrifts showed their loyalty to spring and got out from under the snowdrifts. As soon as the first petals appeared, the sun warmed them and together with Spring defeated Winter.

Another interesting legend is passed down from generation to generation among the Polish people. Once upon a time there lived one happy family in the mountains. Father and mother had two children: a boy and a girl. When the brother fell ill, and it was necessary to find fresh plants for his treatment, the sister went to the forest in search. However, there was one problem, it was winter in the yard, and everything around was covered with snow. The girl cried out of despair, and the drops of her hot tears woke up the first spring flowers – snowdrops. Thus, the child’s life was saved.

Interesting Facts

• The snowdrop, like the narcissus, belongs to the amaryllis family.
• It is important to know that the bulbs of these flowers contain a poisonous substance that is dangerous for the human body. However, snowdrops were extracted from the bulbs of one variety galantamine. This substance is a healing medicinal compound used in the treatment of disorders of the central nervous system.
• A hobby related to collecting these flowers is called galanthophilia. And indeed there are many collections of snowdrops in the world. The largest of them is the Colsbourne Park collection (Great Britain).

How to celebrate Snow White Day?

This date provides a great opportunity to pay attention to the fact that winter is over and the first warm days of spring are coming. On April 19, nature will delight you with its spring warmth and beauty. You can see sellers with bouquets of the first flowers at the market. Do not rush to buy them, because in this way you support the extermination of plants belonging to the Red Book. It is better to enjoy flowers that grow in the wild or in a flower garden.

IN Snowdrop Day in natural areas, parks, nature reserves, and schools, events are held to draw the attention of different generations to the importance of this spring flower.

When will we celebrate Snowflakes Day??