World Honey Bee Day is a holiday designed to raise awareness about the importance of bees to the world and also gives credit to beekeepers who help maintain healthy bee populations.

This holiday is celebrated on the third Saturday in August and is the perfect excuse for parents to teach their children about bees and what they contribute to not only the natural world but also to human civilization.

The History of World Honey Bee Day

World Honey Bee Day began in 2009 when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas J. Vilsack, proclaimed this day as a holiday. He wanted to ensure that he raised awareness about the benefits that bees provide to society and the importance of honey bees to agriculture around the world.

Fun Facts About Honey Bees

Now that we’ve learned about the history of World Honey Bee Day, it’s time to turn our attention to learning a little bit more about the humble honey bee. Below are some great honey bee facts that are perfect for telling friends and family members on this holiday.

• Humans have been keeping bees for at least 4,500 years.
• In approximately 8 weeks, a bee’s lifespan, a worker bee will fly over 1.5 times the circumference of the Earth.
• A queen bee can lay up to 2,500 eggs every day.
• The world’s oldest beverage is mead—a drink that’s made from fermented honey.
• Honey bees can beat their wings approximately 200 times per second.
• Americans consume anywhere from 1 to 1.3 pounds of honey per year.
• In the U.S., there are over 210,000 beekeepers.
• Drones die after mating with a queen.
• In Africa, some people erect Bee Fences. These aren’t real fences but beehives that keep elephants out of certain areas.
• According to Greek mythology, Apollo was the first beekeeper.
• In Ancient Egypt, some people paid taxes using honey.
• Anglo-Saxons made a beer using water, honeycomb, and various herbs.
• A worker bee will die after it stings someone.
• A queen bee can sting someone without dying.
• One beehive can collect over 65 pounds of pollen every year.
• It takes a beehive 10 pounds of pollen to make one pound of honey.

Observing World Honey Bee Day

Celebrating this holiday can be as easy or as complex as you want it to be. On the simpler side, you can take the time to learn about bees and teach the next generation about the importance of bees to society.

Or, if you prefer, you can plant local wildflower seeds to help promote the local honey bee population. This is also a good day to give family members, friends, or coworkers honey or bee-themed gifts. While you’re observing this holiday, be sure to use the hashtag #WorldHoneyBeeDay to promote this holiday to everyone on the internet.