When someone in a beekeeper’s family passes away, there’s this old tradition called telling the bees about the death.
You actually go out to the hive and let the bees know what’s happened, hoping to keep them calm and somehow connected to your home.
People say this helps the bees stay loyal and healthy, even when things feel heavy.
Why would bees need to know such personal news? It sounds odd at first, right?
But it’s a really old custom from Europe, and it’s all about respecting the bees—almost treating them like family members.
If you skip telling them, some folks believe the bees might stop making honey, leave the hive, or just get sick.
Sharing big life events with your bees connects you to a long history of caring for these little creatures.
It’s not just superstition—it’s a way to honor both the bees and the people who live alongside them.
If you’re curious, you can find more details about telling the bees about a death.
The Ritual of Telling the Bees About a Death
This custom asks you to tell honeybees about a death in the family, hoping to keep them calm and loyal.
You’ll find that the ritual has its own steps and symbols, linking the bees to the household.
Let’s look at how this tradition started, the beliefs behind it, and what people actually did.
And, of course, what could happen if you don’t tell the bees.
Origins and History of the Tradition
Telling the bees has roots that go back centuries, mostly in Western Europe.
People in New England and the British Isles practiced it a lot.
They believed bees were almost like relatives who needed to know about big events—especially deaths.
The tradition ties back to Celtic mythology and old rural customs.
Usually, the beekeeper or the “goodwife” would announce the death at the hive to keep the bees peaceful and to stop them from leaving.
Charles Napier Hemy, the artist, painted scenes of beekeepers doing this, which shows how it fit into daily life.
Folk Beliefs and Symbolism
You tell the bees because you respect them and want them to feel connected to your home.
Some say bees can sense shifts in the family’s mood.
If you leave them out, they might just swarm away or die, which everyone saw as a bad omen.
People often draped black crepe, a mourning cloth, over the hive.
This signaled grief and showed the bees were part of the household’s sorrow.
Bees shared in the family’s fate, so telling them kept things in harmony.
Customs and Ritual Elements
To tell the bees, you’d gently knock on the beehive and speak softly, letting them know about the death.
Most people used a calm, serious tone.
Saying the name of the person who passed and offering a brief message was pretty common.
Black crepe or cloth went on the hive as a sign of mourning.
Sometimes people left flowers or a bit of honey near the hive to show respect.
Consequences of Not Telling the Bees
If you forget to tell the bees, tradition says they get upset.
They might leave, stop making honey, or even die.
This would be a real headache for the beekeeper, since bees matter so much for honey and pollination.
Some people thought bad luck or illness could hit the family if the bees weren’t told.
Including the bees in family events kept the hive strong and the home safe.
If you want to dig deeper, here’s a detailed explanation.
Telling the Bees and Royal Traditions
It might surprise you, but the British royal family still practices this ancient custom of telling bees about a death.
They share important news with the hive, hoping to keep the bees calm and connected to their home.
This ritual shows respect for the bees while marking big family events.
John Chapple’s Role as Royal Beekeeper
John Chapple has served as the royal beekeeper for years.
He looks after the hives at Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.
When Queen Elizabeth II died, John performed the ritual and told the bees about her passing.
He softly knocked on each hive and spoke quietly to the bees.
He reassured them that their “new master,” King Charles III, would be kind to them.
This ceremony, though simple, keeps a long tradition alive.
John’s role shows just how much the bees matter to the royal household—not just for honey, but as part of the family.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Bees
Queen Elizabeth II’s bees heard about her death right after she passed.
The ritual isn’t just superstition—it’s about keeping the bees peaceful and loyal.
The queen’s beekeeper gently informed the hives, maintaining a bond between the family and their bees.
At the palace, people see the bees as part of the royal home.
When big events happen, telling the bees is a way to show respect and care.
This practice has lasted for centuries and was carried out carefully when the queen died.
Practices at Buckingham Palace and Clarence House
Buckingham Palace and Clarence House both keep several hives for their royal bees.
The palace beekeeper checks on the bees year-round, making sure they’re healthy and safe.
When something big happens, like a death, the beekeeper follows tradition and tells the bees in person.
Usually, the beekeeper knocks gently on the hives and talks quietly, sometimes mentioning who passed away or introducing new owners.
This tradition really shows just how tied the hives are to the royal family’s home.
It’s a small detail, but honestly, it’s a pretty meaningful way to keep old customs alive.
