There is a fable about bees, god made all the animals out of clay and
water except the bee.  The bee was made by a demon who lived under
the earth and who was a fine craftsman but very jealous of the things
god was making.  So he made a bee which was very beautiful but it wasn't
alive, only god could breathe life into things.  (We don't know how the
demon got there.)  The demon made the bee out of precious metals and
his own tears, then he showed it to god and tricked god by flattery into
breathing life into it.  The bee escaped and flew away.  But soon it
began to feel very depressed because its blood was made of tears, not
water.  It went to a flower and drank all the sweet honey and felt better.
But after a while the feeling wore off.  So now the bee goes constantly
to flowers and drinks to keep itself happy, otherwise it will be too sad.
When it isn't doing well it stings people and the pain is from the demon's
tears.
 
 
 
Merry Christmas,
Liz Day
 
University of Illinois at Chicago
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