Beeswax played an important role in peasant agriculture, serving as both a valuable commodity for sale and a universal material for the home. It was obtained during beekeeping (collecting honey from wild bees from forest deposits), and later - in beehives.
Peasants poured wax on linen threads and hard hemp threads before sewing. This strengthened the thread, prevented it from tangling and protected the stitches from moisture.
Wax was mixed with tar, lard or vegetable oil to impregnate leather shoes and horse harness. This lubricant made the leather soft and waterproof.
Melted wax or its mixture with turpentine and linseed oil is smeared on top of wooden utensils, furniture and doors. This protected the wood from rotting, drying out and moisture.
Wax was part of the garden queen, used to cover cuts and damage to fruit trees during transplanting and pruning.
The wax was used to make healing ointments for burns and wounds. Also, a number of folk fortune-telling (for example, pouring wax into the water on the banks of Christmas) and rituals were associated with it.