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Bees and Christmas Through the Ages
- Pete Rizzo
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
The Connection Between Bees and Christmas
When you think of Christmas, presents under a twinkling lit Christmas Tree probably come to mind... but bees? Believe it or not, bees have played a surprisingly significant role in Christmas traditions for centuries.
Let's look into the connections between bees and the Christmas season.
Beeswax Candles in Christmas Tradition
Long before electric lights adorned our Christmas trees, beeswax candles illuminated the darkest nights of winter. These candles were precious.
Beeswax burns cleaner and brighter than tallow (animal fat candles), producing minimal smoke and filling the air with a subtle honey fragrance.
In medieval churches, beeswax candles were reserved for the most sacred occasions, and Christmas services were illuminated by their warm, golden light.
The Catholic Church particularly valued pure beeswax candles, as bees were seen as symbols of virginity and purity, the wax being produced without corruption, much like the Virgin Birth.
Even today, many churches maintain the tradition of using beeswax candles during Christmas Eve services and midnight Mass. The soft glow of these candles connects modern worshippers to centuries of Christmas celebrations.
Christmas Eve Magic Happens When Bees Sing Hymns
One of the most enchanting pieces of bee folklore centers on Christmas Eve. According to various European traditions, bees would hum sacred songs at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, celebrating the birth of Christ.
Some believed you could hear them singing psalms in their hives if you listened carefully.
In parts of England and Germany, beekeepers would visit their hives on Christmas Eve to wish their bees a Merry Christmas and inform them of the holy night.
This practice was part of the broader tradition of "telling the bees", keeping bees informed of important family and community events. Failing to tell the bees about significant occasions was thought to bring bad luck or cause the bees to leave.
Honey is The Original Christmas Sweetener
Before sugar became widely available and affordable, honey was the primary sweetener in European cooking and baking. This made it central to many Christmas treats that we still enjoy today:
Gingerbread and Lebkuchen
Traditional gingerbread, particularly the German Lebkuchen, has been a Christmas staple since medieval times. These spiced honey cakes were originally made by monks and were considered special treats for the Christmas season. The city of Nuremberg, Germany, became famous for its Lebkuchen in the 14th century, with recipes closely guarded by bakers' guilds.
Polish Pierniki
In Poland, pierniki (honey cookies) are an essential part of Christmas celebrations. These cookies are made weeks in advance, as the flavor improves with age, the honey and spices melding into something truly special.
Melomakarona
In Greece, melomakarona, honey-soaked cookies studded with walnuts, are a Christmas essential. The name itself contains "meli" (honey in Greek), highlighting the ingredient's importance.
Honey Cakes Across Europe
From Scandinavian honey cakes to Russian pryaniki, honey-based Christmas sweets appear throughout European traditions, each region adding its own spices and techniques.
Mead: The Ancient Christmas Wassail
Mead, the fermented honey beverage that predates wine, played a significant role in medieval Christmas celebrations.
During the winter solstice and Christmas season, mead featured prominently in wassailing traditions, the practice of toasting to good health and prosperity.
The word "wassail" itself comes from the Old English "wes hál," meaning "be healthy." Groups would go door-to-door singing and sharing wassail (often mead or mulled cider), spreading Christmas cheer.
In rural areas, wassailing extended to orchards and beehives, where people would toast the bees to ensure a good honey harvest in the coming year.
Beeswax and Christmas Crafts
Beyond candles, beeswax has been used in various Christmas crafts:
Ornaments: Natural beeswax can be molded into decorative shapes, stars, and figures for the Christmas tree
Sealing Wax: Traditional Christmas letters and cards were sealed with beeswax stamps
Polish for Wood: Beeswax polish was used to make wooden Christmas decorations and furniture shine for the holiday season
Why Bees Matter to Christmas
In Christian symbolism, bees represented several virtues that aligned with the Christmas message:
Industry and Community: Bees work together harmoniously, reflecting the Christmas themes of peace and cooperation
Purity: The production of pure wax made bees symbols of virginity and innocence
Resurrection: Bees' hibernation in winter and emergence in spring paralleled themes of death and rebirth central to Christian theology
Divine Organization: The perfectly structured hive represented divine order and the kingdom of heaven
Saint Ambrose, a 4th-century bishop, was often depicted with a beehive, as legend said a swarm of bees landed on him as an infant, leaving honey on his lips, a sign he would have a "honeyed tongue" for eloquence.
Bees and Christmas Today
While we may no longer tell our bees about Christmas or listen for their midnight hymns, bees remain connected to our holiday celebrations:
Sustainable Gift Giving
Handcrafted beeswax candles, honey gift sets, and beeswax food wraps have become popular eco-friendly Christmas gifts, supporting beekeepers and sustainable practices.
Supporting Beekeepers
Purchasing local honey and beeswax products for Christmas giving helps support beekeepers during the quiet winter months when bees aren't producing.
Christmas Markets
European-style Christmas markets often feature honey vendors, selling varieties of honey, honeycomb, mead, and honey-based products that connect us to these ancient traditions.
Conservation Awareness
The Christmas season has become a time when many people give "adopt a beehive" gifts or donate to bee conservation organizations, helping protect these essential pollinators.
Bees in Winter: What Are They Doing During Christmas?
While we're celebrating Christmas, what are the bees doing?
In most temperate climates, honeybees are huddled in their hives in a "winter cluster." They don't hibernate but instead stay active inside the hive, shivering their flight muscles to generate heat and keep the queen warm at the center of the cluster (around 95°F/35°C).
The bees survive on the honey they stored during summer and fall, making the beekeeper's decision of how much honey to harvest a delicate balance.
Traditional beekeepers always left enough honey for the bees to survive winter, understanding that their Christmas candles and treats depended on healthy, surviving colonies.
Bringing Bees to Your Christmas
Want to honor the bee-Christmas connection in your own celebrations? Here are some ideas:
Use beeswax candles during Christmas dinner or on your holiday mantle
Bake traditional honey cookies like gingerbread or lebkuchen
Give local honey as Christmas gifts, supporting nearby beekeepers
Try mead as a unique addition to your Christmas beverage selection
Make beeswax ornaments with your family
Plant bee-friendly bulbs for spring, a Christmas gift to next year's bees
Share these stories and keep the traditions alive
A Toast to the Bees
For centuries, bees have sweetened our Christmas celebrations, lit up our darkest nights, and reminded us of the beauty of community and hard work.
So here's to the bees of the past, present, and future. May their hives stay warm this winter, and may they continue to buzz through our Christmas traditions for generations to come.
Merry Christmas to you and your bees!
Betsy & Pete
🐝Las Vegas’s All-Natural Live Bee Removal Team
About Us: The Authors
We’re Betsy and Pete - Beekeepers on a Mission in Las Vegas
We aren't just in the bee business; we’re in the bee-saving business. Trained by a master beekeeper and backed by years of successful rescues, we specialize in relocating honey bees with precision, safety, and care.
At our Joshua Tree Preserve in Arizona, we care for dozens of thriving hives. Some wild, some honey-bearing, and all are part of our commitment to ethical, sustainable beekeeping.
Why Vegas Bees? Because We Never Stop Learning or Caring
Beekeeping is always evolving, and so are we. We stay on the cutting edge by continuing our education, connecting with fellow beekeepers, and refining our beekeeping practices and techniques to ensure the best outcomes for both bees and people.
Whether it’s advanced bee removal strategies or the latest natural methods, we’re always one step ahead.
We’re also proud to support the beekeeping community with high-quality beekeeping supplies for everyone. If you’re ready to suit up and start your journey, we’ve got what you need.
