The custom of 'telling the bees' is an ancient tradition where beekeepers inform their bees about significant life events, like deaths, births, or marriages. Rooted in Celtic mythology, bees were seen as messengers between the human and spirit worlds. This practice became prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries in Western Europe and the U.S. To tell the bees, the head of the household would gently knock on the hive and solemnly share the news, believed to keep the bees from leaving or dying. The tradition reflects the deep respect and connection people had with bees as part of their community.