When I first started maintain bees , I approached the activity with as much realism and skill as I could rally . I thoroughly read every beekeeping book in my armory , cover up to cover so as not to neglect a thing . I diligently attended everylocal beekeeping clubmeeting . I pick the mentality of the old - timers and mentor who were unforced to mind and be come up to by my questions . Until I really cracked start the palpebra of a hot summertime beehive , I did not sympathize the magic deep within the darkness of a colony of honeybees .
When my married man and I moved our young family to our current habitation , we leave the hive behind for the interim . It was the midriff of the time of year and their hive was stacked four , soon to be five , supers tall . We did n’t need to interrupt their flow rate , so to speak , but we fail to narrate them we were leave — and that we ’d be back for them , of course . In mid - July , against the odds , our vainglorious beautiful beehive stream , to our unhappiness and discombobulation . My mentor laughed upon hearing the narration .
“ You didn’ttell the bee , ” he said . “ The honest-to-goodness superstition says you have totell the beeswhen something freehanded hap — a birth , a death , a marriage , a move . You did n’t tell the bees . ”
What I think was simply an old Appalachian superstition , is in fact , a very old tradition among apiculturist . The concept of “ telling the bee ” is widespread across cultures all over the world . There are countless other superstitions , myth and legends associated with the honeybee , as well . She has captivate humans for so long , captivated us with her sweet charms and keep us at arm ’s length with her power . Here are a few of my favorite myths , legends and folktales about the Apis mellifera .
Messenger Of The Gods
The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that bee were servants and messenger of the gods and goddesses . The Romans believed that a swarm of bees was to be deflect because while the swarm was on the move , they were the carrying substance and doing the biddings of the god .
In ancient Egypt , it was believed that Ra , the sun god , create the honeybee from his tear . The bee was then seen as the messenger of the god , fall from Ra ’s typeface , down to earth , where she could render the messages from the Shangri-la .
The ancient Celts also see honeybee as messenger between world . They conceive honeybees bringers of wisdom and revered them for their function in the metaphysical .
Story Of The Stinger
Jupiter , king of the Romanist gods , is say to have given the Apis mellifera her stinger , to protect her love . His wife , Juno , however , importune there must be payment for this natural endowment of a artillery , so Jupiter devote the cut with the condition that the bee dies should she use it .
Sacred Honey
Honey played an important role in guiding the ancient Egyptians in the hereafter . bee , beehive and bee relics , along with dearest , were regard funerary gifts for the dead . The Egyptians were n’t the only culture to admit honey as a endowment or rites of passing for the deceased : the Romans , Hindus and Chinese all had rite connecting honeybee , honey and death .
Well-Informed Bees
In the most alike tale to the Appalachian one cite above , Cornish folklore says that the beekeeper must inform his or her bee of an at hand move ( especially not on Good Friday ) , lest they sting him / her to dying . It ’s also said you should never imprecate at your bees , or they will make off the hive .
Many cultures believe that bees should be informed of their custodian ’s demise and sung to . It ’s also customary to tempt them to the funeral and offer them bar or drink from the service .
From Queen To King
Interestingly , but not surprisingly , as cultures around the world excised the persona of women in powerful positions and adopted patriarchy , the position of the honeybee and her role changed . There was a chemise towards calling thequeen beethe “ king bee ; ” the belief being that only a male person could spearhead and guide such a successful , orderly living system . With that said , the honeybee , and her societal moral force , including the queen bee , have exemplify the divine feminine , various goddess , Mother Earth and the nurturing space of the womb in cultures around the world .
go on bees is a hobby that centers around the development of the self — you may read all the Word ever written about keeping honeybees , and you will still always learn something Modern , see something incredible and experience magic each new season that may never look in mark . The folklore and legends that have follow the Apis mellifera throughout history are a will to the magic she add to the human world .
