“For thousands of years, bees have held a significant place in myth and folklore across cultures. Since the Mesolithic era, honey and beeswax have been vital resources for humans, shaping our relationship with bees, especially honeybees, from encounters in the wild to agricultural domestication. Often seen as magical creatures, bees and their honey have been revered as divine gifts.”
“In ancient Egypt, the bee symbolized Lower Egypt and represented life, death, and rebirth. Egyptians believed bees formed from the tears of Ra as they touched the desert sand. They were the first to build artificial hives, and many hieroglyphs show bees honored alongside Ra as producers of liquid gold.”
“In Greek and Roman myths, bees were seen as divine messengers moving between the worlds of the living, the dead, and the gods. They symbolized fertility and inspiration, and a bee touching a baby’s lips was believed to bless them with poetic talent.”
“The Kalahari San people tell that the first human was born when a bee, exhausted while carrying a mantis across a river, planted a seed inside the mantis before drowning. When the mantis awoke at sunrise, the seed had grown into the first human.”
“Madhu Purnima is a Buddhist festival celebrating unity and charity. Legend says a monkey brought honey to Buddha during his forest retreat and, after dying from overexcitement, was reborn in a heavenly realm. Today, Buddhists offer honey and fruit at shrines during the full moon of the 10th lunar month.”
“In 19th-century Europe, people believed bees must be told about major household events or the hive would suffer or leave. When a beekeeper died, someone would gently knock on the hive and inform the bees so they would accept the new keeper.”
“Surah An-Nahl (“The Bee”) in the Qur’an presents bees as models of industrious, community-focused living and producers of healing foods. The text, written 1,400 years ago, also correctly states that female bees make honey, knowledge confirmed by modern science.”
“Native American stories often portray bees as fierce protectors of nature. Though small, they defend themselves powerfully, teaching respect for the natural world. Bees were also linked to fertility, and some tribes gave honey to couples struggling to conceive.”
“Across cultures, bees have inspired many superstitions. A bee landing on someone was considered good luck, while killing one was seen as dangerous. Some believed a maiden’s purity could be proven if she walked through a swarm without being stung.”
“During the Industrial Revolution, Manchester became known for its hive-like factories where thousands worked like “busy bees.” In 1842, the city adopted the worker bee as its symbol, representing productivity and industrial unity.”