How Honey Came to Be

The first winter that came to this land was long, bitter and cold. Snow lay thick over the land, icicles adorned stark, bare trees and rivers froze in mid-spate. Many animals had not prepared for this deep and seemingly endless cold, and many died, hungry and frozen. Some of the animals could find no shelter and the ice leached the colour out of their fur, turning them a pure white. That is why in winter now, fox, hare and ptarmigan turn white, in memory of their ancestors in the long first winter.

As summer came around again, and warmth and light returned, the animals cried out to Mother Earth that the winter had been so hard and cruel, the sun had completely gone from the land, and many of them had died. Mother Earth, awaking from her deep winter slumber felt her heart break for her children, for their loss and grief.

She gathered her children around her, the wolves and foxes, badgers and squirrels, bats and owls, bears and lynx, voles and moles, snails and bees, dragonflies and kingfishers. She told them that she would teach them a way to gather the power of the sun in summer and keep it all through winter. It would keep the winters from being so bitter and cold, and it would hold all the joy and healing of a warm summer’s day. But only one of her children could hold this, and protect it.

The wolf pack stood forward first.

“We will hold the power of the summer through the winter for us all. We have sharp teeth and claws, and can protect it well.”

So Mother Earth whispered into their ears how to gather the energy of the summer, and away the wolf pack went. Running flower to flower, they gathered the nectar. But they were big, and it was difficult to get the nectar from the delicate flowers. And though the wolves were big and strong, there were not many of them, so by the time the leaves started to fall from the trees and a chill wind blew, they had only a very small pot of honey.

The second winter was also long and bitter and cold. It was not quite so cruel as the first winter, but still many died. The summer came eventually and Mother Earth gathered her children again. This time the snails said they would try.

“We are many, and we are small. It will be easier for us to gather the essence of summer.”

So Mother Earth whispered into their ears how to gather the energy of the summer, and away the snails went, leaving their iridescent trails behind them. They moved from flower to flower, gathering nectar. But they were slow, and despite there being many of them, they could not move fast enough to gather much, so by the time the leaves started to fall from the trees and a chill wind blew, they had only a very small pot of honey.

The third winter was also long and bitter and cold. It was not quite so cruel as the second winter, but still many died. The summer came eventually and Mother Earth gathered her children again. This time the bees said they would try.

So Mother Earth whispered into their ears how to gather the energy of the summer, and away the bees went, humming happily as they flew off. They buzzed joyously from flower to flower all summer long. There were so many of them that they made the air thrum with the sound of their wings. They were small and agile, and could reach the nectar easily. They could fly very fast and gather much. They went back and forth to their hives, where they stored the nectar, and through the magic of Mother Earth, turned it into honey. By the time the leaves started to fall from the trees and a chill wind blew, they had many large pots of honey.

This time, autumn was long and golden, bathed in glorious sunshine. The winter came, but it was not so cruel or so bitter. The snow still fell, and icicles still formed, but there was free-running water, and the carpet of snow was not so thick that the animals couldn’t get through it to eat. When some of the animals became sick or hungry, they would visit the bees, who would give them a drop of honey, holding all the power and magic of the midsummer sun. With their stings they could protect the honey, and they were fierce guardians.

When Mother Earth awoke again, she saw the many smiling faces of her children, who had survived the winter and now greeted the spring, and her heart was full of joy to see them.

And that is how bees came to make honey.

© Elena Tornberg-Lennox 2023