The Snowdrops, called Galanthus nivalis, in Greek ‘Milk Flower’ are one of the first flowers to appear in the new year. Snowdrops were named after earrings not drops of snow. They usually flower between the months of January and April. There are more than 2,500 varieties of snowdrop. They are symbolic of spring and mean purity, innocence, sympathy and consolation. According to Romanian legend, each year the Sun took the form of a beautiful young girl to warm the earth in the spring. The people loved her and looked forward to her appearance with the greatest pleasure. One day, the monster of Winter known as a Zmeu kidnapped her and hide her in a dungeon. The world became a dark and sad place. The birds sang no more and the waters fell silent. The Sun could not even think that she could escape from the dungeon, until the young man named Hero set her free. However, the poor Hero was wounded and, despite Sun’s warmth, he fell to the ground. He let his blood drop on the floor and the first Snowdrops began to grow, symbolizing the new life and renewal. The nature came back to life, but the young man never got to see spring again. The Snowdrop is a common symbol of Marțisor, the Romanian traditional celebration of the beginning of the spring. The Marțisor is an authentic Romanian tradition which has miraculously survived to this day and is celebrated on March 1st. The name itself is a diminutive of March (in Romanian Martie), and thus means something like “little March”. The tradition represents a time of joy and revival of nature. On this day, men give their female friends (mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends) flowers, amulets and small gifts.
