#folkloreThursday TELLING THE BEES
it is a longstanding English tradition for bee keepers to inform their hives of any going-ons in the community, primarily births, deaths and Marriages.
This is thought to be a remnant from the Bronze age belief that bees could cross back and forth into the underworld and carry messages.
It was said if the bees were not kept informed they would leave, stop producing honey or all die.
If there was a death in the beekeepers family, the hives would be given black drapings for the mourning period.