Telling of the Bees

The Homes of the Bees Victorian Etching

When one dreams of bees in the spring, it means that riches are soon to arrive. In Celtic folklore, bees were thought to be messengers from our world to the next and could be used to communicate with departed loved ones. The respectful tradition of "telling the bees" important family news about births, marriages, and deaths of family members became popular in the 18th century. In England, beekeepers would give their bees offerings of wedding, birthday, and funeral cakes along with glasses of wine.