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.

Well-wishers often presented the bride and groom with a month’s worth of the special honey brew, along with beautiful goblets.
Today, the honeymoon is a vacation for the new couple. It’s a way to relax from the efforts of wedding planning and a chance for the new couple to spend time with each other in private. The honeymoon also symbolically begins the change from the couples’ old life as individuals to their new life as a married couple.

Discover beautiful honey wedding favors to celebrate the ancient tradition of the honeymoon.