Origin of Honeymoon
A honeymoon is the traditional holiday taken by a newly-married couple to celebrate their marriage in intimacy and seclusion. The term has its roots in the ancient Norse word “hjunottsmanathr” (“honey month”) which involved a period of “hiding” by the bride and groom (presumably from the bride’s family, if it was not an arranged marriage).
During this time of hiding, the newlywed couple often drank mead, a sweet wine made from fermented honey — to bring good luck. Mead was first concocted by monks for medicinal purposes, but it was soon discovered that the drink’s potent effect on the imbiber encouraged conjugal bliss.
Traditionally in a number of cultures (e.g.
Welsh, German, Scandinavian or Babylonian), mead was drunk in great quantities
at weddings and then after the ceremony nuptial couples were often presented
with a month’s worth of the special honey brew, along with beautiful goblets.
It was believed that by faithfully drinking mead for that first month, the
woman would “bear fruit” and a child would be born within the year.