Celebrate World Bee Day Every May 20
Celebrate May 20
It took 3 years, but World Bee Day became official in 2017.
And the 1st celebration happened in 2018.
Slovenia first proposed the day to the United Nations in 2014. The idea came from the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association and the government backed it. In 2015 Apimondia (International Federaion of Beekeepers’ Associations) came on board.
They chose May 20 in part because it is Anton Janša’s birthday. He was a major authority on bees and is considered the pioneer of modern beekeeping. His teachings became standard shortly after his death.
In addition, May is an important month for bee activity around the world.
- In the areas where May means spring, bees are out buzzing about, pollinating flowers and making honey.
- In areas where May marks cooler fall weather, it’s time to harvest the honey.
The proclamation for the day (PDF) passed out of the UN’s Economic and Financial Committee in November 2017. And the General Assembly unanimously backed it on December 20, 2017.
So May 20, 2018 became the very first official World Bee Day.
Do Bees Need Another Day?
Are bees really so important that we need to celebrate them multiple times a year?
They already have …
- World/National Honey Bee Day in August
- Don’t Step on a Bee Day in July
Why do we need another day?
Because bees really are that important.
They pollinate about 70% of the world’s most important food plants.
Now, they’re not the only pollinators for most of those plants. But yields would be much lower (up to 40%) without the bees.
And since the world’s population keeps growing, we need food yields to keep growing. Stagnating or even decreasing yields could become a huge problem pretty quickly.
Of course, bees also produce honey, beeswax, and other products we use for food, healthcare, etc.
And the health of bee populations can tell us about the health of the environment where they live. Or die.
So again: Yes bees deserve multiple days throughout the year.
Surprising Uses for Bee Products
Bees do more than help us grow good foods. They also make several other products that may help us in surprising ways.
Honey
Now obviously you know honey makes a great, all-natural sweetener. You may even know it can soothe a sore throat.
But do you know what else it can do?
- Help wounds heal faster. Even infected wounds.
- Treat other skin conditions, like pediatric dermatitis and diabetic foot ulcer.
- It may even improve oral health, like reducing periodontal disease and bad breath.
Scientists have even been studying its use for improving cardiovascular health, treating several cancers, and more. It has shown some positive effects! That doesn’t mean it can cure these things on its own. But it might help in combination with other treatments.
Propolis
Honey isn’t the only thing bees make. Propolis is a “glue” bees use to seal cracks in the hive, create smooth surfaces, and even help regulate the hive’s temperature.
Studies suggest propolis can treat gastrointestinal parasites and stomach ulcers.
Other studies show positive results against oral diseases and some cancers. Also, it seems to cure bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.
Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is food for the queen bee (for life) and her larvae (for the 1st few days of their lives). Her worker bees secrete it from glands in their mouths/throats. It’s basically bee spit!
It may help treat PMS and menopause symptoms. Studies also suggest it may protect against mental decline as we age.
This stuff also helps wounds heal and can treat diabetic foot ulcers.
Some of the above effects come from eating the honey, royal jelly, or propolis. In other cases it’s used as a topical treatment.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this sweet & buzzy holiday.
Celebrating World Bee Day
Are you convinced World Bee Day is a day worth celebrating?
Good! Then let’s get started.
Spread the word
Since this is a new day, not too many people will know about it. Let’s change that!
Tell your family and friends.
Post on social media with the hashtag #WorldBeeDay
Share this page!
Make your garden bee friendly
It can be easier than you think. And if you already like to plant fruits & vegetables, you might already be well on your way.
Backyard crops that bees like include:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Strawberries
- Pumpkins
Don’t buy fresh herbs, grow them instead! And let them flower so the bees can feast:
- Mint
- Lavender
- Sage
- Thyme
- Basil (Soooo many bees all over our basil when it blooms!)
Find more plants bees love here.
Buy hive products from local beekeepers
You know these things are good for you! So support your local beekeepers so they can keep on caring for their bees. And bringing you great, local honey & other hive products.
Give bees a home in your yard
Don’t just attract bees with flowers, make a nest box for solitary bees!
Honey bees get most of the love (and for good reason!). But they’re not the only bees around. Solitary bees are also important pollinators.
So give them a little love too.
You can learn more about World Bee Day and helping the bees on the day’s official website.
How will you celebrate World Bee Day?
[…] The Beekeeping Association in Slovenia has petitioned the United Nations to declare May 20 as World Bee Day. (And in December 2017 the UN made it official … May 20, 2018 is the first ever World Bee Day!). […]