Today we are living the funeral of the Queen isabel II, the monarch who ruled the United Kingdom for the longest time. But did you know that when she passed away someone had to tell the bees?
According to a report from New York TimesBuckingham Palace beekeeper John Chapple was tasked with informing the bees of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
While media around the world was dedicated to publishing the news of the death, the exclusive of the Daily Mail was that the “the royal beekeeper has informed the queen bees that the queen has died”.
Informing the bees of Queen Elizabeth II is a tradition
Although it may sound like a joke, historians of British folklore claim that “telling the bees” is a tradition that dates back centuries, with potentially serious consequences if it is not followed.
Tradition holds that bees, as members of the family, must be informed of major events in the life of the family, especially births and deaths.
New York Times he describes that custom dictates that beekeepers must touch each hive, give the news, and possibly cover it with a black cloth during a period of mourning.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, according to the newspaper, it was thought that not warning the bees could cause various misfortunes, including their death or departure, or the impossibility of producing honey.
Considering that we are experiencing a dangerous drop in the number of bees in the world, it is likely that beekeepers decide not to take the risk and maintain that sign of respect.
The Daily Mail he reported that he had tied black ribbons around the hives before quietly telling them that the queen had died and that they would have a new master.
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