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Curious Customs and Beliefs in Modern: England

It is a widespread superstition that bees must not be bought with money but must be exchanged for some product of nature, though in some parts of England bees may be bought with gold. Hence in many places the usual price of a swarm of bees is half-a-sovereign, to be paid in gold. One starting bee-keeping in Germany should begin with the lucky number of three hives, and he prospers best who buys the first swarm, has the second given to him, and finds the third. But in England it is unlucky to buy the first stock, which should always be given, the custom being to offer something, as a small pig, in return. He who steals bees steals from himself good luck, as stolen bees never prosper.

In Bavaria and other places bees must not be bought or transported on Friday, which is considered an unlucky day.

Moreover, bees will not prosper in a quarrelsome family, and particularly if there are dissensions between husband and wife.

Nor do they thrive in time of war.

There is in Germany a superstition that the bees will die if a nail from a coffin is laid in their hive, or driven into it.

It is also unlucky to dream of bees, as he who does so will have a quarrel.

Sometimes to dream of bees, however, signifies a fire, and if bees settle on a house it is a sign that it will soon burn down.

There is, as we remember, a similar Greek superstition, and among the ancient Hindus it was considered a matter for long-continued sacrifice if a swarm of bees settled on a house.

Numerous appeals or prayers, as in the middle ages, are still in use imploring the swarming bees not to fly away, or if they have flown to come back again and supply the usual stores of honey and wax.