Spelling Bee Tragedy.. Dont laugh.

A spelling bee is a competition where contestants, usually children, are asked to spell English words. The practice originated in the United States and has since spread to elsewhere in the English-speaking world. It is not, however, a very familiar concept in the UK, where, if the term is known at all, it is usually perceived to be peculiarly American. For example, in a review of the film Bee Season, UK's Channel 4 calls it an "American custom" and feels the need to explain what the term means. [1] In a review of Spellbound by Irish broadcaster RTÉ it is referred to as a "bizarre American phenomenon". [2]