Saying Goodbye to the Bees

[buzz lightyear]

Hi All
Apologies for not posting for quite a while, but have been caring for family.
My father in law has just passed away and was a fellow bee keeper. He was quite a traditionalist and I know he would want me to say goodbye to the bees for him.
could anyone on here give me any info on this, or is it simply talking to them.
I know this might seem a daft question, but just want to do right by a wonderful bloke and fellow bee keeper.
Thanks for any replies, Buzz

 

[Swarm]

Sorry to hear of your loss, buzz.
I've not looked into it though I have done similar. I collected the hives and when I'd sited them at my apiary, I gave apologies for their ex keeper and explained that I would do my best to care for their needs.
I saw a film where each hive was draped with a black cloth.

 

[Uncle Betty]

Hi All
Apologies for not posting for quite a while, but have been caring for family.
My father in law has just passed away and was a fellow bee keeper. He was quite a traditionalist and I know he would want me to say goodbye to the bees for him.
could anyone on here give me any info on this, or is it simply talking to them.
I know this might seem a daft question, but just want to do right by a wonderful bloke and fellow bee keeper.
Thanks for any replies, Buzz

There is a lot of stuff about these customs and beliefs in Hilda Ransome's book, 'The Sacred Bee in Ancient Times and Folklore', and she relates different traditions in different parts of England.


Northamptonshire - some of the cake and wine served to mourners was placed inside each hive, in addition to the crepe being put on. Similar for Lincolnshire.

Shropshire - a deceased beekeeper's wife went to the bees and said 'Bees, bees, the poor master's dead, so you mun work for me.'

Bucks - Tap the hives three times and say 'Little brownies, your master is dead'. When the bees hum, they consent to remain.

Oxon - The bees were believed to die if not told of a death.

Bees must be spoken to gently, all news given to them politely in a whisper. If harshly spoken to they will desert.



Hope some of this helps, condolences on your loss.

 

[Icing Sugar]

I am sorry to hear of your family loss. You could do one or more of the following traditional methods to inform the bees:

1. Using the key to your father-in-law’s house, knock gently on the hive to get the attention of the bees and then inform them in a low voice that he has died.

2. If his wife is still alive then you might want to use the following words: "Your master's dead, but don't you go. Your mistress will be good to you."

3. If she wishes to be more involved in the proceedings, she could drape the hives in black cloth whilst humming poignantly to herself.

Only the other day a member of my BKA passed away. I wonder whether anyone will be notifying his bees.

 

[wightbees]

Telling The Bees written by John Greenleaf Whittier 1894

Here is the place; right over the hill

Runs the path I took;
You can see the gap in the old wall still,
And the stepping-stones in the shallow brook.

There is the house, with the gate red-barred,
And the poplars tall;
And the barn's brown length, and the cattle-yard,
And the white horns tossing above the wall.

There are the beehives ranged in the sun;
And down by the brink
Of the brook are her poor flowers, weed-o'errun,
Pansy and daffodil, rose and pink.

A year has gone, as the tortoise goes,
Heavy and slow;
And the same rose blows, and the same sun glows,
And the same brook sings of a year ago.

There 's the same sweet clover-smell in the breeze;
And the June sun warm
Tangles his wings of fire in the trees,
Setting, as then, over Fernside farm.

I mind me how with a lover's care
From my Sunday coat
I brushed off the burrs, and smoothed my hair,
And cooled at the brookside my brow and throat.

Since we parted, a month had passed,--
To love, a year;
Down through the beeches I looked at last
On the little red gate and the well-sweep near.

I can see it all now,--the slantwise rain
Of light through the leaves,
The sundown's blaze on her window-pane,
The bloom of her roses under the eaves.

Just the same as a month before,--
The house and the trees,
The barn's brown gable, the vine by the door,--
Nothing changed but the hives of bees.

Before them, under the garden wall,
Forward and back,
Went drearily singing the chore-girl small,
Draping each hive with a shred of black.

Trembling, I listened: the summer sun
Had the chill of snow;
For I knew she was telling the bees of one
Gone on the journey we all must go!

Then I said to myself, "My Mary weeps
For the dead to-day:
Haply her blind old grandsire sleeps
The fret and the pain of his age away."

But her dog whined low; on the doorway sill,
With his cane to his chin,
The old man sat; and the chore-girl still
Sung to the bees stealing out and in.

And the song she was singing ever since
In my ear sounds on:--
"Stay at home, pretty bees, fly not hence!
Mistress Mary is dead and gone!"

 

[MuswellMetro]

Bedfordshire folklaw i saw acted out on the death of a beekeeper when i was a child in the 1950's was similar to Buckinghamshire

knock three times on each of the hives with the beekeepers hive tool and saying " your old master is dead, kiock three times again i am your new master now my little friends"

all my honey jar labels have a discrete saying in light grey letter at the bottom of the label "Who will talk to my bees when i am gone", just my way of keeping alive a tradition ,

Some buyers notice it but so far only one person has known what it means

 

[eric]

https://lancashirehoney.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/tales-of-bees-and-the-dearly-departed/
sorry for your lose Buzz

 

[buzz lightyear]

Thanks for such quick replies!
I'm more clued up now. Will pop and let them know.

 

[Poly Hive]

When my first MIL died even though she had nothing to do with my bees I went to the apiary and just told them the news. silly? quite possibly but it made me feel better.

PH

 

[Erichalfbee]

I go back at my mum's anniversary too. After all only the queen might remember I told them last year. I told them all this morning. They murmured their sympathy.

 

[Brigsy]

This is one of my favourite threads to date. Sorry for your loss.