Bee myths, tales & legends

A bee myth- buzzing sound of bees is assumed to come from the beating of their wings.  However, the sound is the result of the bee's vibrating flight muscles.  Bumblebees are especially noisy buzzers because they must be really warm to fly.

Another bee myth- about bees is that they do not sting at night, which in fact is incorrect, they will sting at anytime for protection.

One of the first things people notice about bees is that they are attracted to sweet things and not foul. 

In General symbolism

Bees - brave, industrious, clean, politically harmonious, and aesthetically gifted. 

They are known to also represent  perfect community, (weak in body) strong in spirit and wisdom, very strong in creativity. 

Bees are symbolic of sexuality, chastity, fertility, purity and care.

Considered to be an image of a human soul due to their natural ability to find their way home from great distances.

Bees are also symbolic of work and industry as represented by the common phrase "busy as a bee."

The Romans believed a swarm of bees was bad luck and that they were divine creatures which originated directly from the gods.

In Wales a bee buzzing around a sleeping child means the child will have a happy life and a virgin can always walk safely through a swarm of bees.

In ancient times it was believed that bees were attracted to the sounds of clanging metal and thus bees were associated with the love of music.

According to one Egyptian myth, honey bees were the tears of the sun god Ra. 

Bees have a religious association  goddess Neith, whose temple in  Lower Egypt was known as per-bit - meaning 'the house of the bee'. 

Bees and their honey was regarded as a symbol of resurrection. Honey was found in the tomb of the boy-king, Tutankhamun, to give protection against evil spirits.

In Christian legend, the emblem of Christ, his forgiveness. 

The Christian Church has strong links with bees.  Monasteries kept bees to provide honey for sweetening and mead made from fermented honey - wax was in great demand for candles.  Honey and mead were used to make herbal remedies more palatable! Brother Adam of Buckfast Abbey is well-known today.

In Paradise, little winged servants of god along with the eagles are the only animals that have access to heaven. 

More myths surrounding the bees of paradise are ancient and obscure. The ancient Greeks who wrote that bees were spirits who came to our world from paradise. Bees used to be associated with the soul.

In Ancient Near East and  Bronze age civilizations it is believed to be the sacred insect that bridged the natural world to the underworld. Appearing in tomb decorations.

Depending where you seek your council-In dreams;

Bees signify activity, productivity,  social life, happiness in life and success in love. 

Seeing bees is a lucky dream and calls much good to the dreamer in all his endeavors.

In Chinese culture, oracle inscription of bee swarming was found in Shang Dynasty (11 century BC). King of Zhouwu had a Òbee flagÓ when leading forces to publish King of Zhou of Yin Dynasty.

The Hindu culture the gods Vishnu, Krishna and Indra were referred to as "nectar born ones" (Madhava) and were often represented as bees perched on a lotus flower.

In Egyptian culture the bee represents monarchic organization, industry, creative activity, diligence, and wealth.  

Bee links

World wide species map and for complete bee identification guides visit: http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q? 

 search=Apoidea#Identification

Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BBCT) Saving the sound of Summer

http://www.bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk/

Pollinators need your help. Be a Pollinator Observer!

They are an indispensable natural resource, and their daily work is essential for over a billion dollars of apples, pears, cucumbers, melons, berries, and many other kinds of Canadian farm produce.

                    http://www.pollinationcanada.ca/

Note: We do not raise bees. We have an average amount of bees/wasps as does any outdoor area.