What's the Buzz?
Posted by: Amanda Dennis -
I love this time of year when everything is waking up. The birds are singing and making nests, the odd butterfy flutters past, plants are flowering and all types of bees are buzzing around.
These beautiful bees have been a trend in gifts, greetings cards and jewellery in recent times and that doesn't seem to be changing any time soon.
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Bees are essential in our world, they pollinate much of our fruit, vegetables and flowers. And they make honey !
Since 1900, the UK has lost 13 species of bee, and a further 35 are considered under threat of extinction. This is why it is so important that we protect them and show our support towards them.
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Bees have symbolised many different things throughout the world in modern and ancient times. For centuries the bee has been a symbol of wisdom, birth, rebirth and industry, hence the phrase 'a busy bee'.
Bees, like fairies, are often considered guardians of the natural world, eternally linked with love, magic and romance. In Celtic mythology, honeybees were regarded as messengers between our world and the spirit world and were associated with wisdom garnered from the 'otherworld'
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One of the traditions I love about bees is the 'telling the bees', where the beekeeper treats their bees as members of their family and therfore keeps them up to date with family news, always using gentle calm voices with no harsh words.
All Marriages, new babies and especially deaths were marked by decorating the hive and telling the bees what had happened.
The death of the beekeeper is particularly sensitive. The new beekeeper must introduce themselves formally to the bee colony as their new owner and ask for their acceptance as their new master or mistress.
Did you see the reports in the newspapers following the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II ? There was a story of the Royal beekeeper telling the bees kept on the grounds of Buckingham palace that their mistress had died and wrapped a black bow around each hive. ♥️♥️
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And then we have the power of honey.....
Across the globe honey has been a very popular culinary delicacy as well as an important medical remedy for many millennia. Its earliest known use as a medicinal prescription is found in Sumerian clay tablets that may be almost 4000 years old. In the present day how many of us reach for our honey jars when we have a cold or sore throat? It is good as a source of energy, helps with digestion, is antibacterial and antiseptic and is said to be good for the blood.
Amber has the look of a good honey so it is no surprise that it is often used in bee jewellery as in this stunning brooch.
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With so much positive symbolism buzzing around the bee and it's honey, it is no wonder that the popularity of bee themed jewellery and gifts is as strong as ever.
Giving a gift with a special meaning as a symbol of hope and strength can make a powerful and thoughtful gift for a friend or loved one. And what can be more symbolic than the humble bee, a symbol of community, love & hope.🐝🐝
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"Bees are not optional"