Editing Galanthus (section)

=== Symbolism ===
Early names refer to the association with the [[religious feast]] of [[Candlemas]] (February 2) – the optimum flowering time of the plant – at which young women, robed in white, would walk in solemn procession in commemoration of the [[Purification of the Virgin]], an alternative name for the feast day. The [[French language|French]] name of {{lang|fr|violette de la chandaleur}} refers to Candlemas, while an [[Italian language|Italian]] name, {{lang|it|fiore della purificazione}}, refers to purification. The [[German language|German]] name of {{lang|de|Schneeglöckchen}} (little snow bells) invokes the symbol of bells.<ref name=Churchgal/>{{sfn|Harland|2016}}

In the [[language of flowers]], the ''snowdrop'' is [[synonymous]] with '[[hope]]' (and the goddess [[Persephone]]'s/[[Proserpina]]'s return from [[Hades]]), as it blooms in early [[Spring (season)|springtime]], just before the [[March equinox|vernal]] [[equinox]], and so, is seen as '[[herald]]ing' the new spring and new year.

In more recent times, the snowdrop was adopted as a symbol of sorrow and of hope following the [[Dunblane massacre]] in Scotland, and lent its name to the subsequent campaign to restrict the legal ownership of handguns in the UK.{{sfn|McGivern|2016}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=The "Snowdrop" Campaign |website=www.wcc-coe.org |url=http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/international/dunblane.html |access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref>