The Honeymoon

04 August 2007

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The term "honeymoon" is though to originate from the times when a man captured his bride.

The couple would hide from the bride's parents before marrying. The couple would remain in hiding for a further cycle of the moon after the wedding.

During this period they drank honey wine.

In Scotland the custom was for a woman with milk in her breasts to prepare the marital bed to encourage fertility in the newlyweds.

In Ireland a laying hen was tied to the bed on the first honeymoon night in the hope that some of its fertility would be passed on to the couple.

Eating a double yolked egg was also thought to bring fertility.