I’m sure you have all heard of the Appalachian Rules:
If you see something, no you didn’t.
If you hear something, no you didn’t.
If something whistles at you, you don’t whistle back.
We all know the Rules of Appalachia, of course, but what about some of the more unspoken superstitions? The whispered wives’ tales that have been passed down from generation to generation. Stories told to warn those who chose Appalachia as their home and to protect them from the unknown forces that were there first. This is the Appalachian superstition of “telling the bees.”
In the past, bees were not only seen as livestock or just a part of farming. Bees were seen as caretakers, keeping the homestead from dying off by pollinating crops and keeping food on the table. Also, they were seen as messengers, messengers of the farm and between the living and the dead.
The superstition of “telling the bees” started out as a death ritual. When a member of the family would pass away, someone would need to go inform the bees. They would walk up to the hive boxes, knock on each one, and whisper to them the news. It is warned that not telling the bees would cause them to leave the hives and die off, leaving the homestead to suffer in their wake. They called it “mourning to death.” The superstition then began escalating to the point that “telling the bees” didn’t only mean to tell them about death, but also to tell them about births, weddings, and almost all gossip that may have been going around. Telling the bees about a new baby or couple kept the honey from “going bitter.”
Overall, “telling the bees” may be an old wives’ tale, but it has to have at least a little bit of truth to it. Those of the Old World knew the mountains and what kept them safe from what lurked around. Maybe it was the Wampus Cat or just some bitter honey, but there is almost always a protective tale to be told.
So, my dear readers, always listen to the old wives’ tales of Appalachia, as the elders who walked these trails knew what was around and how to stay protected from it. Always be sure to tell the bees to protect your homestead and keep your honey sweet, for playing around with Appalachian superstitions is like fooling with a bee and expecting to not get stung.
Edited and Reviewed by Kien Powell
