As Spring brings life back to Earth, one of my favourite creatures comes back- bees! Bees are present in folklore and mythology in many different cultures. Not to mention that bees are vital to our existence and humans, and all life on Earth really. Needless to say, bees are highly respected and highly important
“Telling the Bees”, a tradition where beekeepers/people tell bees about major events. If the beekeeper dies, the family has to tell the bees, or else they might leave or die of grief. Some cover the hive in a black cloth during mourning. Invite bees to weddings, and leave them some cake
The Celts believed bees are intermediaries between this world and the Otherworld. Bees can carry messages to the dead. They’re also thought to carry wisdom and be closely related to the Fae
Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that bees are servants and messengers of the gods
The story of Jupiter and the Bess exists in Roman mythology. The bee gave Jupiter a gift of honey and asked for a stinger to protect it’s precious honey. They agreed, although Juno suggested a payment for using it- their life
In Greek mythology, bees are associated with life and death. Greeks believed openings to rock faces and caves were entrances to the Underworld. Cerberus could be distracted by honey cakes. Some believed humans could reincarnate into bees
Greeks believed that if a bee touches a baby’s lips, they would grow up to be a great poet
In Ancient Egypt, it was believed that bees were created from the tears of Ra hitting the sand in the desert
Bees were seen as royalty in Ancient Egypt. Honey played an important role in guiding people in the afterlife, and was often left as gifts for the dead. Honey, beeswax, and other hive products were often placed inside tombs for the dead to eat on their journey to the afterlife. It was very common to use honey and beeswax to enbalm and seal sarcophogi. Ancient Egyptians believed the voices of souls sounded like the hum of bees
In Germanic folklore, you can take leave from your body by transforming into a bee
If a bee lands on your hand, money is on it’s way
If a bee lands on your head, you will be successful in life
If a bee flies into your home, it means good luck or a stranger is on their way. If you kill the bee, the stranger will bring bad news
Bees buzzing around a child’s head foretells a happy, successful life
Seeing a single bee will bring luck
It is unlucky to kill a bee
Brides-to-be would walk their betrothed past a hive. If he was stung, he would be unfaithful and the marriage would fail
Never buy bees with normal money. Use gold coins if you must, but ideally you would barter over them or receive them as a gift, so as to not offend them
Bee swarms are seen as a bad omen
If the bees stay close to the hive, a storm is on it’s way
Deities/God(desse)s Associated with Bees:
Honey is used to sweeten situations or things. Honey in your tea or on food can sweeten your day, while honey on your lips can make your words sound sweeter
Beeswax can be used in sympathetic magic by making a figure out of beeswax and use it as you would with clay or a poppet
Due to its stickiness, it can be used in binding spells
Offerings to the Fae and deities
You can gaze into a candle flame of a beeswax candle, read wax drippings, or drip wax into water and read shapes/symbols
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