FAIR MAIDS OF FEBRUARY

that is, SNOWDROPS, and a reference to the festival of Candlemas (2 February), when it was the custom for the Fair Maids, dressed in white, to walk in the procession at the festival (Prior). A stage from this would mean that the plant was sacred to virgins in general, and at one time the receipt of snowdrops from a lady meant to a man that his attentions were not wanted (Prior).