Heathering Wednesday
Mar 13
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"🎶 Amidst the bonnie blowing heather,
Where blooms and bees convene together,
A symphony of buzz and hue,
A dance 'neath skies of deepest blue.
The bees, in robes of black and gold,
Among the purple, brave and bold,
Gather nectar with delicate ease,
In the gentle, whispering breeze."
Buzz about in this reel with meandering bee-chase figures and double triangles which might remind you of bees working hard in the fields of heather flitting from flower to flower! Heather honey is one of the most unique and flavorful types of honey in the world. From the nectar gathered from summer blooms found predominantly in moorland areas, heather honey is distinctive for its strong, aromatic flavor and jelly-like consistency, setting it apart from other varieties. The process of collecting heather nectar requires bees to work harder due to the flower's structure, resulting in a honey that is rich in antioxidants and has a higher mineral content. Lucky White Heather Honey's has a caramel smell and taste make it exceptional and sought after by honey connoisseurs. Buzz, Buzz! 💜 💜 💜 🐝 🐝 🐝 🍯 🍯 🍯
Bees in the Heather
Scotland has a number of superstitions surrounding bees, reflecting the deep respect and affection for these industrious insects. Bees are often seen as bringers of good luck and prosperity, and there are several quaint practices and beliefs associated with them.
Telling the Bees: One of the most enduring superstitions is the practice of "telling the bees" about major life events, especially deaths and births within the household. It was believed that failing to inform the bees of a death in the family would lead to bad luck, the departure of the swarm, or even the death of the remaining bees. Conversely, sharing news of happy events like births and marriages was thought to bring good fortune and prosperity to the family.
Bees and Weddings: Bees were sometimes considered to bring blessings to a wedding. Honey cakes were often given as gifts to ensure sweetness in the newlyweds' lives, and in some tales, a hive might be gifted to the newly married couple to ensure prosperity and happiness.
Moving Bees: There's a superstition about the proper way to move a bee hive. It was believed that bees should only be moved during a specific time (like under the cover of darkness) and only a short distance each day to prevent them from losing their bearings. Additionally, some believed that bees should be told and agreed upon their move.
Lucky Bees: Finding a bee in the house or having a bee land on someone was often considered a sign of good luck, indicating that good news or a visitor was on the way.
Bees Mourning: Reflecting the belief in bees' sensitivity to human affairs, it was thought that bees would mourn the death of a keeper by gathering at the hive's entrance or ceasing their work.
If all this talk of bees has you thinking about some honey, click the honey below for one source to find some Scottish Honey!
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
