THE CARNIOLIAN HONEYBEE
The Slovene native Carniolian honeybee also known as the Carniolian or Carnie (little grey or sivka in Slovene) is favoured by beekeepers for its diligence, its ability to store large quantities of nectar and pollen and the workers’ ability to forage 10 days longer in autumn compared to other species.
A great expert in the field of beekeeping and particularly interested in the little Carnie was Anton Janša from Breznica (Upper-Carniola region in the former Habsburg monarchy and present-day Gorenjska in Slovenia).
His book the Discussion on Beekeeping is widely recognised as pioneering in modern apiculture. His extensive knowledge was praised even by the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa who after Janša’s death decreed the use of his books to all teachers of apiculture.
The bees are held in such high regard in Slovenia that when they die instead of using the word poginiti, normally used for animals when they die (žival pogine), we use the word umreti which normally applies to people (ljudje umrejo).
And when we get a stroke of luck in Slovenia our ax is dropped in honey (nam sekira pade v med). An idiom that probably goes back to the days when our ancestors were looting honey from wild beehives.
The Slovene traditional beehive with painted front panels date back to the 18th century. They originated in the Grenjska and Koroška region (Upper-Carniola and Slovene Carinthia region) from where they spread to other parts of Slovenia. They quickly gained popularity among Slovene beekeepers and became a typical feature of Slovene-style beekeeping. Around 50.000 traditional motifs were designed related to anecdotes and fairy tales, beekeeping, religious and secular life.
Considerable merit in introducing the Carnie and Slovene tradition in beekeeping to the European apiarist of the 19th century and from there to the world stage goes to Mihael Ambrožič from Mojstrana.
Grit, industriousness and preservation (saving) abilities are traits not only typical of the little Carnie – sivka but also of the Carniolians themselves.
M. P.
