Snowdrops emerging through the grass are a welcome early sign of spring, but why do we find them in graveyards? According to www.yorkbikebelles.community, monks first brought snowdrops to this country in the late 16th century and planted them in monastery gardens. Then the Victorians started planting them on graves. Since snowdrops are slow-growers, they thrived in holy ground where they were left undisturbed.
Another possible explanation is that, according to legend, the snowdrop is the symbol of hope when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden (www.nationalchurchtrust.org). When Eve was about to give up hope that the cold winters would never end, an angel appeared and transformed some of the snowflakes into snowdrops. Even the hardest winters eventually give way to the spring.
There are many more possible explanations, but the end result is still wonderful to see on a cold misty morning.
