We have placed this Nursery Rhyme, Bless you, bless you, bonny bee , in our category 'Lost Lyrics of an Old Nursery Rhyme'. Can you help us identify the the place of origin or history of this lesser known children's nursery rhyme? Contact us at webmaster@rhymes.org.uk  we'd love to hear from you!

The Symbolism of Bees

The words of the Nursery Rhyme associate the bee with weddings.

Mead was obviously a favourite celebratory drink at weddings and the bee was the symbol of the Greek Goddess Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love.

The bee has always symbolised Royalty and prosperity (probably due to the cluster of worker bees working for the Queen Bee) and was associated with the Egyptian God Ra, the Sun God.

In recent history the Emperor Napoleon used the bee as a symbol on his coronation robes!