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 yoked egg was also thought to bring fertility.
