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Bee Old Wive's Tales, Superstitions and Folklore.
- Pete Rizzo
- 4 days ago
- 9 min read
A Fun Look into Ancient Bee Folklore from Around the World.
Bees have long been the subject of myths, legends, and enough old wives' tales to fill a beehive. These tiny creatures, with their relentless work ethic and suspiciously well-organized societies, have inspired folklore that ranges from the wise to the downright peculiar across virtually every culture that encountered them.
Whether viewed as omens, messengers, divine representatives, or little winged weather forecasters, bees have had quite the reputation over the centuries. Let's dive into the world of bee superstitions and explore these fascinating beliefs.
The Art of Telling the Bees
One of the most well-known bee superstitions is the tradition of "telling the bees." According to folklore, beekeepers must inform their hives of major life events such as births, deaths, and marriages. Failure to do so could result in bees ceasing to produce honey, abandoning the hive, or even dying off entirely.
In 19th century New England, families would drape beehives with black crepe and leave funeral cake by the hives when the master of the house died. In parts of Wales, bereaved families would tie black ribbons around their hives and sing hymns to ensure the bees wouldn't depart. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, special "bee-bread" would be offered when announcing a death.
For wedding announcements, some regions in France decorated hives with red ribbons and left pieces of wedding cake. In the Ozarks, expectant mothers would whisper news of their pregnancy to the bees, believing this would ensure their child would have a sweet disposition and industrious nature.
The practice was so embedded in culture that it appeared in literature, including John Greenleaf Whittier's 1858 poem "Telling the Bees," which captures the poignancy of this tradition.
Bees as Omens and Messengers
Many old tales claim that bees don't just make honey—they also deliver messages from the beyond. A bee flying into your house is supposedly bringing important news. If it lands on your hand in Cornish tradition, wealth is coming. If it lands on your head in Germanic folklore, great success awaits.
In ancient Egypt, bees were believed to be born from the tears of the sun god Ra, giving them divine messenger status. Celtic mythology associated bees with hidden wisdom and ancient knowledge, while in Greek tradition, the famous Oracle of Delphi was sometimes called "the Delphic Bee."
The Russians believed that a bee circling someone three times signified that person would soon embark on a journey. In parts of Appalachia, if a bee flew into a house and then back out, it meant a stranger was coming. If it stayed inside, the visitor would stay for an extended time.
Some cultures took these beliefs even further. In Lithuanian tradition, the souls of good people were thought to reincarnate as bees.
Similarly, in Slavic mythology, bees were considered sacred creatures that connected the living world with the realm of the dead. Killing a bee was strictly taboo, as it might be carrying an ancestor's soul.
Bees as Weather Forecasters
Forget meteorologists—bees were once considered the most reliable weather predictors. Across Europe, from Scotland to Slovenia, specific bee behaviors were carefully observed for clues about upcoming weather conditions.
Folklore claims that when bees stay close to their hive or move sluggishly, rain is on the way. Conversely, if they're wildly buzzing about, clear skies are ahead.
In the British Isles, if bees returned to the hive in large numbers before noon, a thunderstorm was expected by evening. German farmers believed that if bees flew far from the hive in the morning, the day would be fair, but if they stayed nearby, rain was imminent.
Pennsylvania Dutch settlers had a saying: "When bees fly far to work, good weather will prevail; when they stay near their hives, a storm is on the trail."
In the French countryside, beekeepers claimed they could predict winter's severity by examining how the bees sealed their hives—more propolis meant harsher weather ahead.
Meanwhile, Swedish folklore held that if bees were extremely active in late summer, preparing extra honey stores, winter would be especially long.
Though meteorologists may frown upon relying on bees for forecasts, there's actually significant truth to these beliefs. Bees are sensitive to changes in barometric pressure, humidity, and temperature, and their behavior does shift in response to incoming weather changes.
Recent scientific studies have confirmed bees can detect the electrical charges that build up before storms.
Beekeeping Superstitions: Trust and Good Fortune
Bees, according to folklore, know and recognize their keepers. A well-loved beekeeper will supposedly never be stung, while a neglectful one might find themselves on the receiving end of a buzzing rebellion. (Spoiler alert: Actual beekeepers know that even the best-kept bees sometimes have a bad day.)
In rural England, some beekeepers would never buy bees with money—they had to be received as gifts or bartered for. Paying with coins was thought to bring bad luck to the hive. Scottish tradition required that a new hive be placed on its stand before sunset, or the bees would never prosper.
If a new beekeeper takes over a hive, traditions across Europe dictated specific protocols. In Devon, England, the new keeper had to introduce themselves at midnight, tapping each hive three times with a small key while saying their name.
In Brittany, France, the introduction required offering the bees bread soaked in wine. German beekeepers would offer honey cake while reciting a specific rhyme requesting the bees' cooperation.
Some regions believed bees should never hear quarreling or witness violence. Vermont beekeepers allegedly would never argue near their hives, believing the bees would abandon their home if exposed to discord.
Similarly, in parts of Eastern Europe, apiarists thought bees would flee if they overheard cursing or blasphemy.
Bees and Wealth
A swarm of bees moving onto your property was widely considered lucky throughout Europe. In old Slavic folklore, finding a wild bee colony in the woods near your home meant prosperity for seven generations.
Portuguese fishermen believed that if bees built a hive on their boat, they would always return with nets full of fish.
The Swiss had a saying: "A swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; a swarm in July isn't worth a fly." This reflected both the decreasing value of late-season swarms and the perceived connection between bees and prosperity.
In Wales, if bees built a hive in the roof of your home, it meant the household would never want for money. Interestingly, in parts of Yorkshire, England, the reverse was believed—bees in the house were thought to bring poverty unless promptly removed with specific ritual words.
On the other hand, killing a bee was considered an omen of bad luck across multiple cultures. In Russia, it was said to bring seven years of misfortune.
Greek beekeepers believed killing a bee would cause the death of livestock. Native American Hopi tradition held that harming a bee would cause crops to fail.
The Healing Power of Honey
Old wives' tales frequently touted honey as a cure-all. Got a sore throat? Honey. Wound that won't heal? Honey. Want to live forever? Probably still honey.
In ancient Egypt, honey was so valued for its medicinal properties that it was used in more than 500 remedies, treating everything from eye diseases to fertility problems.
The Greeks and Romans believed honey mixed with olive oil could restore eyesight, while honey with wine was thought to cure impotence.
Medieval European monasteries kept extensive apiaries specifically for medicinal honey production. Monastic records show honey mixed with various herbs was prescribed for ailments ranging from insomnia to intestinal worms.
In Ayurvedic medicine from India, honey combined with specific herbs was used to treat respiratory conditions. Russian folk medicine advocated honey poultices for drawing out infection, while Finnish tradition held that burns treated with honey would heal without scarring.
While some historical claims were exaggerated, modern science has validated many traditional uses. Research has confirmed honey's antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties.
Medical-grade honey is now used in clinical settings for wound treatment, especially for antibiotic-resistant infections.
A particularly persistent belief is that eating local honey can make you immune to seasonal allergies. This idea appears in folk medicine traditions from the Appalachians to ancient China.
While scientific evidence is mixed, some small studies suggest there may be benefits, particularly when the honey contains traces of local pollen.
Love, Marriage, and Bees
Bees have a storied history in romance and marriage traditions. In Ancient Greece, Hymettus honey was fed to newlyweds to ensure a sweet union, giving us the term "honeymoon." Roman brides carried honey-cakes as fertility symbols.
Victorian-era lovers exchanged souvenir bottles of honey on Valentine's Day, believing it would ensure fidelity. In parts of Eastern Europe, a bride who received a gift of honey on her wedding day was assured of having children.
One old Irish belief states that if a bee lands on your hand, true love is on the way. Romanian tradition held that unmarried women who caught a bee in spring would marry within the year.
In the Italian countryside, if a bee hovered near a young woman's face, her future husband was thought to be nearby.
Swiss folklore claimed that dreaming of bees meant an upcoming marriage, while in Bohemia, a girl who stepped on a bee would marry a lazy husband.
Some English country traditions held that a bride who saw a bee on her wedding day would have a happy marriage and many children.
Divine and Royal Connections
Throughout history, bees have been associated with divinity and royalty. In ancient Egypt, bees were symbols of the pharaoh, appearing in royal titles and hieroglyphics. The bee was the emblem of Lower Egypt, and honey was considered the food of the gods.
Napoleon Bonaparte adopted the bee as his personal symbol, embroidering golden bees on his coronation robe to connect himself to the ancient Merovingian kings of France, who had also used the bee emblem.
In Hindu tradition, the god Vishnu is sometimes depicted as a blue bee, while the goddess Bhramari Devi takes the form of a bumblebee. Celtic mythology associated bees with wisdom and the Otherworld, and they were considered messengers between worlds.
Early Christians viewed bees as symbols of resurrection and purity. Medieval churches often kept hives to supply beeswax for holy candles, believing only the purest material should be burned during sacred ceremonies. The organized beehive society was held up as a model of ideal Christian community.
The Global Look at Bee Beliefs
Bee mythology extends far beyond European traditions. In Mayan culture, the bee god Ah-Muzen-Cab was a deity of honey, bees, and agriculture. Specific bee priestesses called "X'unan-Kab" maintained sacred apiaries and performed rituals to ensure good honey production.
Australian Aboriginal dreamtime stories speak of a time when honey bees taught humans how to live properly. Many African cultures revere the relationship between the honeyguide bird and humans, following it to wild bee colonies—a tradition that some anthropologists believe dates back 20,000 years.
In parts of China, especially among the Dai people, bees are considered sacred messengers of spring and renewal. Japanese folklore tells of "happy bees" that bring good fortune if they build a hive near your home.
The Enduring Mystery of Bees
Bees have been the subject of fascination, reverence, and occasional nervous glances for centuries. While some of these old wives' tales might seem amusing today, they reflect a time when people deeply respected and observed the natural world.
These superstitions also served practical purposes—many encouraged respectful beekeeping practices, careful observation of nature, and sustainable relationships with these important pollinators.
Whether or not you believe in these superstitions, one thing is certain: bees are important to our lives and ecosystems, and their presence is always a good sign—unless they're swarming in your living room, in which case, maybe give your local beekeeper a call.
And, of course, don't forget to tell the bees when something important happens. Just in case.
Betsy and Pete
Las Vegas, Nevada
About Us: The Authors
We're Betsy and Pete, passionate Las Vegas beekeepers trained by a master in the field. With hundreds of successful bee and bee swarm removals under our belts, we're not just experts; we're enthusiasts committed to the well-being of these incredible pollinators.
We manage dozens of beehives, both natural and honey-bearing at our Joshua Tree Preserve.
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