The Fascinating Myths and Legends of Bees

As a child I read a book where the occupants of the house kept bees in the garden, and they had to tell them all of their news. This book was magical and mysterious, and ever since then I have been fascinated by bees and the lore that surrounds them. When I started planning Moonfell, I knew there had to be bees in the grounds that the witches would honour, as part of following the old ways.

The book that so enthralled me was called Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge. I had previously read her book The Little White Horse which is utterly captivating, and had immediately looked for more of her books, unfortunately only finding one other. Elizabeth Goudge mostly wrote for adults rather than children, so those two books were it, but I loved both equally. They are mystery stories, too, and you know that I love those. I strongly recommend them, as they are wonderful for adults.

What is so magical about bees?

In Linnets and Valerians, the children who arrived at their uncle’s house were told they had to tell the bees all the household’s news, or the bees would be offended and either bad luck would fall on the occupants, or the bees themselves would suffer and die. Where did this come from? In the research I have conducted, it seems to be classed as a European tradition, but the exact origins are not well-documented. However, it likely stems from a combination of pagan beliefs and the deep bond between beekeepers and their bees. In many rural communities, bees were seen as more than just insects; they were viewed as extensions of the family or as mystical creatures with a special connection to the spiritual world.

Bees are essential for pollination and honey production, which were vital for both food and income. As such, maintaining a good relationship with the bees was crucial. The fear of losing them, whether through neglect or offense, was significant. This tradition reflects a broader theme in folklore where natural elements and animals are believed to be sensitive to human emotions and events, reinforcing the idea that humans and nature are deeply interconnected. The ritual of “telling the bees” served as a way to honour this connection and ensure the continued prosperity of both the household and the bees.

In practice, “telling the bees” involved a ritual where the head of the household, or sometimes the beekeeper, would approach the hive and softly murmur the news to the bees. This was often done by knocking gently on the hive or by draping it in black cloth during mourning periods. For example, in the case of a death, the beekeeper might say, “The master is dead, but you must stay.” In some traditions, the hives were even turned to face the funeral procession, or small pieces of black fabric were tied to them as a sign of mourning.

Other Cultural Beliefs

However, that is one just custom! Bees have been revered and mythologised in various cultures throughout history, often associated with divine wisdom, fertility, and communication with the spirit world.

In Egyptian mythology, bees were believed to have arisen from the tears of the sun god Ra. As Ra wept, his tears fell to the ground and transformed into bees, symbolising life and regeneration.

In Greek Mythology, the nymph Melissa is said to have discovered honey and taught humans about beekeeping. The name Melissa itself means “bee” in Greek. A minor god associated with beekeeping, Aristaeus was credited with introducing the practice of apiculture to humans. When his bees died, he sought advice from the sea god Proteus, who instructed him on a ritual to resurrect them, symbolising rebirth and renewal. Plus, the food of the gods, ambrosia, was believed to contain honey, emphasising the divine nature of bees and their produce.

In Celtic mythology, bees were considered sacred and were believed to be the messengers between this world and the spirit world. They were often seen as symbols of wisdom and immortality. In Norse mythology, the world tree Yggdrasil was associated with mead, a honey-based drink. The bees were thought to help create this sacred beverage that conferred wisdom and poetry.

In Hindu mythology, bees are associated with several gods, including Vishnu and Krishna. The god Vishnu is often depicted with a blue bee on his forehead, and Krishna is referred to as Madhava, meaning “born of honey.” In some African cultures, bees are involved in creation myths. For example, in the mythology of the San people, a bee is responsible for carrying a mantis across a river and inadvertently creating humanity in the process.

Some Native American tribes regard bees as symbols of fertility and productivity. They are often associated with the growth of crops and the health of the environment. In Christian tradition, bees have been associated with the Virgin Mary due to their purity and industrious nature. Medieval Christians also saw bees as symbols of the soul and resurrection, likely influenced by earlier pagan traditions.

The Spirit Realm

All of the above are interesting, but bees association with the spirit realm is the area that I’m most interested in. It seems from what I’ve talked about above that for several cultures bees were seen as symbols of the soul or as carriers of souls, and studies suggest this belief likely stems from the way bees move between the physical world (the hive) and the natural world (fields, flowers), which was seen as mirroring the soul’s journey between life and the afterlife. In Celtic and Greek traditions, bees were believed to guide souls to the afterlife, acting as psychopomps, or spiritual guides. I love the idea of a bee leading me to my afterlife!

The hive, with its eternal cycle of honey production, symbolised immortality and the continuation of life after death. The honey produced by bees was often seen as a divine substance, capable of conferring wisdom, healing, and even eternal life, as seen in the myths of ambrosia in Greek mythology. This association with immortality further linked bees to the spiritual and eternal.

In addition, the beehive itself was often regarded as a sacred space, sometimes likened to a temple or the universe in miniature. I have never considered this, but what a wonderful idea. The hive’s structure, with its perfectly ordered hexagonal cells, was seen as a symbol of divine order and harmony. This view of the hive as a microcosm of the spiritual world reinforced the idea that bees were connected to higher powers and cosmic forces. By the way, honey can last indefinitely if stored correctly! Archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs that are over 3,000 years old and still perfectly edible. I’m not sure I’d risk it, though…

Considering all of the above, it’s not surprising that in European folk traditions, bees were considered sensitive to human emotions and events, and offered us a link to the gods and the spirit realm. I just love the folklore that surrounds them, and if I was fortunate to have the room to keep hives, I would visit them and chat every day! Alas, I cannot.

And of course, bees are essential for life! Currently bee colonies are facing a crisis, such as threats from the Asian hornet, pesticide pollution, climate fluctuations, Colony Collapse Disorder – which is is not fully understood, and other pest threats. I will not go into all of that here, but we have to look after our bees.

Wrapping Up

So, lovely readers, that is just a snapshot of the wonderful bee lore, and obviously I have drawn on the European tradition for my Moonfell Witches books. There is no doubt that I will explore and expand on it in future books, and probably embellish it, too. In Moonfell, the hives are in the orchard, and Birdie finds an old ritual that sets off unusual events in the house. I totally made that up, but it was lots of fun!

If you would like to read more about the myths associated with bees, I suggest:

• The Sacred Bee by Hilda M Ransome. It’s old, but filled with interesting information I haven’t even mentioned!
• Telling the Bees and Other Customs, by Mark Norman.
• A quick search on the internet also brings up interesting websites and articles.

My Moonfell Witches series has two books so far – more to come:

The First Yule, a novella set at Christmas.

Triple Moon: Honey Gold and Wild, the first full-length book in the series.

I’d love to read any comments you have on my post, so drop them below!