This week marked the end of beekeeping class at the local community college. I earned a "B" because, as the prof explained....."You can't earn an A in a Bee class." Next week I head to North Carolina for a trip to Brush Mountain Bee Farm, where I will pick up my adorable garden hives and also some other much needed supplies. (A visit to son, Andy and also a stop in Southern Pines to visit with some friends and their horses will complete the trip.)In preparation for full time beekeeping, I have done a bit more reading and thought I would share some of the interesting stuff with you.
Have you ever heard of mead? Mead is honey wine and is thought to be the oldest alcoholic beverage. It was the beverage of the very early Danes as told in the poem Beowulf. It was the favored drink of the Greek Gods. Yes, honey has been around as long as humankind...and it didn't take us long to figure out how to make wine from it!
Interestingly enough, the origin of the word "honeymoon" comes from a very old tradition. A newlywed couple would drink mead for their first month of marriage to increase their chances of having a son. Since the mead came from honey and a month is one complete phase of the moon......we have the word "honeymoon". Although I am sure that almost no one drinks mead after their wedding anymore.
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2 comments:
Hey Bev, that's pretty cool..I didn't know that about *honeymoon*.
Have a great trip to NC..YAY, I'm glad to hear someone other than I is stimulating the economy! :0)
Be safe,
Steph
I made my own mead a couple of years ago and it was truly potent stuff. It had a honey/syrupy after taste, but it was foremost a strong, highly flavoured alcoholic falling down drink :) Very interesting about the origin of honeymoon. I believe it should be revived :)
Kim x
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