A honeymoon is indeed an ideal way to de-stress after your wedding is all said and done. It’s even more rewarding when you are able to jet away to an exciting destination where you can enjoy a great vacation and create lasting memories with your loved one. But interestingly enough, honeymoons weren’t always about vacations. As a matter of fact, they had much more to do with drinking wine for luck.
As research would have it, back in Europe the tradition was that newlyweds had to consume mead and a honey based wine known as methiglen. The couple who were able to drink this wine for a full month were expected to have a marriage filled with good luck. The honey based portion of the wine would have explained the Honey in honeymoon but what about the moon part? Well back then a month was referred to as a “moon” hence the name honeymoon.
Today, honeymoons involve getting away to a fantastic location but back then the getaway was not that festive. The whole “getting away” part was more of an abduction than anything else. This version of the way the honeymoon began is rooted from the Norse beginnings. Honeymoon is the translation of the word “hjunottsmanathr” which involved the groom capturing his bride and taking her away for a month. While her parents and friends try to find her, the groom would do everything he could to get his bride pregnant before she was found. This aspect of the honeymoon is still practiced in several countries even today.
The only time that romance came into the picture, as far as the honeymoon goes, was back in the 16th century during the Victorian era. The honeymoon was a way for the couple to reconnect after being kept away from each other.
Compared to now, the honeymoon did not necessarily mean that you had to leave your country, or your home for that matter. But the after-wedding occasion has evolved over many years into a destination tour made popular by the sophisticates.
Back then the wealthy newlywed couples would take extravagant trips, with the most popular destination being a trip to Italy. Niagara Falls was also another top honeymoon destination as well. Among some of the most visited honeymoon locations in the United States were Florida, Las Vegas and Hawaii taking the top three spots. With the advent of various method of transportation, couples were able to travel afar and enjoy their honeymoon in other locations.
I think you would agree with me that, while interesting to know, honeymoons of history were not near as much fun as honeymoons of today. There are many idyllic places to chose from that have all the amenities to make your honeymoon enjoyable and, of course, memorable.
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