Do you know the origin of the honeymoon?

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Evelyn Carpenter

Freddy Lizama Photographs

While the origin of the wedding ring is attributed to the Romans and that of the white wedding dress to Princess Philippa in 1406, the truth is that the honeymoon has several possible origins. However, all agree that it is a period after the exchange of gold rings between man and woman. If you are interested in knowing where this romantic concept comes from, please contact us,read on below.

Nordic villages

There is a theory that dates back to the 16th century, among the Viking peoples, which is usually among the most widely accepted. As the story goes, in those days it was believed that newly married couples who wanted to have a boy would have a boy, were to drink mead for the entire lunar month following their wedding. to be blessed by the gods.

Hence the talk of that period as the "first moon "This was directly linked to the procreation of men, since they were responsible for the defense of the territories in times of war.

Nowadays, mead is considered to be one of the first alcoholic beverages Its preparation is based on the fermentation of a mixture of water and honey, which reaches a certain alcohol content of around 13°.

Babylonian culture

Another explanation, even older, is obtained from the Babylonian culture, specifically more than 4,000 years ago. According to this theory, it was customary in that empire that the bride's father provided his son-in-law with honey beer. enough to drink for a full month.

Therefore, as the Babylonian calendar was based on the lunar phases, this period was called the "honeymoon" period. For the Babylonians, honey also represented an offering to the gods, so it had a very transcendental value. Even short love phrases were dedicated to it in the cults, because the gods demanded a food that had not been "stained by fire".

Ancient Rome

On the other hand, in Ancient Rome honey was considered to be a fertility enhancer. For this reason, according to their beliefs, in the room where the newlyweds slept, the bride's mother had to leave a jar of pure honey for them to eat for a whole month.

In addition to contributing to fertility, it was believed that honey recharged them with energy And in the particular case of women, it has also been written that they used honey for aesthetic purposes, to keep the skin softer and shinier.

It is worth noting that in Ancient Rome also another tradition has its origins It was a wheat dough, similar to a large loaf of bread, which was broken over the bride's head as a symbol of fertility.

Teutons

In the Middle Ages, meanwhile, the Teutons were the inhabitants of a people, whose territory is now part of Germany, according to their traditions, influenced by Germanic mythology, marriages could only take place on nights with a full moon. .

But not only that, since in the thirty days following the wedding, the newlyweds had to raise their bridal glasses and drink a honey liquor, that would guarantee them a sweet life and a large family. It was known as an aphrodisiac liquor.

XIX Century

And although the term "honeymoon" had been coined long before it took on its current meaning, it was not until the 19th century that it began to refer to a trip for the bride and groom, as the English bourgeoisie established the custom that the newlyweds, after the wedding, would go on a honeymoon, will travel to visit those relatives who had not been able to attend the wedding.

Through these visits, the couple formally presented themselves as husband and wife By the 20th century, this idea had already spread throughout Europe and, later on, it also arrived in America, influenced by the advance of means of transport and the emergence of mass tourism.

It took several decades for the idea will evolve It was worth the wait, though, because the honeymoon is one of the best experiences a couple can have.

A moment as romantic as it is exciting, only comparable to the first kiss, the giving of the engagement ring or the exchange of vows with beautiful phrases of love. Without a doubt, the first trip of many in your story as a couple.

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Evelyn Carpenter is the author of the best-selling book, All you need for your marriage. A Marriage guide. She has been married for over 25 years and has helped countless couples build successful marriages. Evelyn is a sought after speaker and relationship expert, and has been featured in various media outlets including Fox News, Huffington Post, and more.