Throughout history, varying civilizations and religious texts have held honeybees and the honey they produce in high favour, attributing positive connotations to the golden substance. As such, beyond its sweet, delectable taste, honey is a substance that carries deep symbolism when gifted to another. Here are a few historical and current associations with “liquid gold”!
1) Sweetness
Traditionally, we associate honey with sweetness, due to its naturally sweet taste. However, gifting honey can also represent the sweetness one wishes upon another and their future endeavours, as seen in rites performed in varying cultures. For example, a common Persian wedding tradition is for the bride and groom to dip their pinky fingers in a honey jar and feed honey to one another, symbolizing that they will provide each other sweetness as they begin their lives together.
2) Prosperity/Wealth
Honey can also represent prosperity and wealth through its golden colour, and as indicated in religious texts. In Exodus 3:8 of the Bible, the phrase “a land flowing with milk and honey” is used to refer to the Promised Land - a blessed, prosperous land, as suggested through the abundance of its natural riches. By gifting honey to loved ones, whether for a wedding or birthday, one is imbuing a hope for prosperity and wealth for the recipient(s).
3) Immortality
As honey does not spoil or expire when stored under proper conditions, this quality has contributed to honey symbolizing immortality and everlasting unions, as well as the notion that honey gifts ‘immortal’ powers as suggested by the Ancient Greeks. When considering the Ancient Greeks’ relationship with honeybees and honey, honeybees were viewed as sacred, acting as messengers of higher deities, and joining the mortal realm with the realm of the gods. Honey was regarded as hosting immortal properties, acting as a key component in the mystical drink enjoyed by the gods, ambrosia, thus further contributing to honey symbolizing immortality.
4) Healing
Looking to the past, folks of ancient civilizations did not have the medical advances we have today and had to create natural remedies for their ailments. As honey has medicinally beneficial purposes of being antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, it was (and still is) used for a range of medical troubles, from treating wounds to soothing sore throats. Accordingly, gifting honey can symbolize wishes for good health and healing.
Besides the delicious taste of raw, local honey all guests will enjoy, with thoughtful, customizable packaging, our Honey Favours’ aftertaste will be the profound and loving meanings derived from this gift, and will act as a token of the sweetness experienced on your special day.
