The Bell of Death

The Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is the first sign of spring, pushing through the frozen earth with its pure white head. It seems innocent, known as the "Fair Maid of February." But in Victorian England, it was viewed with deep suspicion.

The Shroud of the Earth

It was considered incredibly unlucky to bring Snowdrops indoors. The shape of the flower resembles a corpse in a shroud, and it grows so often in old churchyards that it was believed to "belong" to the dead. A single snowdrop brought into the house was a death token—a sign that a coffin would soon follow.

Despite this morbid reputation, the bulb contains galantamine, now used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease—proving that even the flower of death holds the key to memory.