Junior Rasmussen
The honeymoon tradition, a holiday for newlyweds to celebrate their marriage, first originated in the fifth century during medieval times. The custom, as we know it today, is a symbol of romance and celebration, but its roots are not as cheerful. In medieval times, the honeymoon ritual served a darker purpose, stemming from the ancient practice of marriage by capture, where the groom would kidnap his bride to impregnate her without her family's consent. Today, honeymoons are often associated with exotic and romantic destinations, and present an opportunity for couples to relax, bond, and explore.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time of origin | 5th century, medieval times |
| Original purpose | "Marriage by capture", where the groom would kidnap his bride with the intention of impregnating her without her family objecting |
| Modern purpose | Varies by culture; get to know one another, become sexually intimate, spend time to relax, create a shared memorable experience, adjust to married life |
| Popularity | Among the 15 countries surveyed, an average of 75% of couples took a honeymoon |
| Average cost | $4500 |
| Original meaning | May have referred to the inevitable waning of love, like a phase of the moon |
| Modern meaning | A holiday taken by newlyweds after their wedding to celebrate their marriage |
| Modern destinations | Exotic or romantic |
| Modern trends | "Solomoon" or "unimoon", a separate, solo holiday taken by one person in the couple without their spouse |
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What You'll Learn
Medieval honeymoons were not romantic
The honeymoon tradition first originated in the fifth century during medieval times. Although today it symbolizes romance and celebration, it was not so romantic in medieval times. The custom derives from "marriage by capture", an ancient practice in which the groom would kidnap his bride with the intention of impregnating her without her family objecting. The groom would hold the bride captive until the family gave up the search or until the bride became pregnant, making it impossible to nullify their marriage.
The medieval years were also responsible for coining the term "honeymoon". In fifth-century Europe, guests would give the newlyweds a month's supply of honey wine, which was believed to help the couple conceive a child. The term "honeymoon" may also have referred to the inevitable waning of love, like the changing phases of the moon. In 1552, Richard Huloet wrote:
> Hony mone, a term proverbially applied to such as be newly married, which will not fall out at the first, but th'one loveth the other at the beginning exceedingly, the likelihood of their exceadinge love appearing to aswage, ye which time the vulgar people call the hony mone.
In the early 19th century in Great Britain, upper-class married couples would take a "bridal tour", escorted by friends or family, to visit relatives who had not attended the wedding. This practice soon spread to the rest of Europe and was known in France as a "voyage à la façon anglaise" or an "English-style voyage". By the late 19th century, during La Belle Époque, honeymoons in the modern sense became widespread, with couples travelling to cities like Paris, Venice, Rome, and Verona, which offered new and exciting forms of entertainment.
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The term 'honeymoon' was coined in medieval times
The honeymoon, a holiday taken by newlyweds to celebrate their marriage, has evolved over the centuries. The term "honeymoon" was coined in medieval Europe during the fifth century, though its customs and rituals have changed since its origin.
In medieval times, the honeymoon ritual served a different, less romantic purpose. It stemmed from the ancient practice of "marriage by capture," where the groom would kidnap his bride with the intention of impregnating her before her family could object. The groom would hold the bride captive until her family gave up the search or she became pregnant, making it impossible to nullify the marriage. This ritual was practised in China, South America, East and South Asia, Africa, and some European countries, where it allowed poor men to avoid paying a dowry.
The term "honeymoon" may have originated from the belief that love wanes like the changing phases of the moon. In 1552, Richard Huloet wrote about the term "honey moon," describing how it was used to refer to newlyweds who were exceedingly loving at the beginning of their marriage, but whose love was expected to wane over time.
In the early 19th century in Great Britain, upper-class married couples would take a "bridal tour," escorted by friends or family, to visit relatives who had not attended their wedding. This tradition spread to the European continent, and from the 1820s onwards, it was known in France as "Voyage à la façon Anglaise" or an "English-style voyage."
Towards the end of the 19th century, during La Belle Époque, modern honeymoons as we know them today became widespread. Couples began to travel to exotic destinations like Paris, Venice, Rome, and Verona, seeking entertainment and cultural experiences. Honeymoons became a time for couples to relax, bond, and explore, creating lasting memories to celebrate their union.
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'Marriage by capture'
While there is no clear evidence of couples honeymooning in medieval times, the tradition of newlyweds going on a holiday together has evolved over the centuries. In the early 19th century in Great Britain, rich and upper-class couples would take what was called a "bridal tour", escorted by friends or family, to visit relatives who were unable to attend the wedding. This tradition later spread across the continent, reaching France in the 1820s, where it was known as "Voyage à la façon Anglaise" or an "English-style voyage".
Now, onto the topic of "Marriage by Capture" in the medieval period.
Marriage by capture, or bride kidnapping, was a practice that occurred during the medieval period, where a royal or nobleman would capture a high-born woman, potentially from another country, with the intention of marrying her. While the church disapproved of this practice and threatened non-consensual marriages with excommunication, it was the consent of parents that was deemed more important than that of the bride herself. This mentality, which persisted even into the High Middle Ages, treated women as property, and the abduction of a woman was considered a grave crime.
There are several recorded instances of marriage by capture during the medieval period. One example involves Elizabeth, who was abducted by Theobald de Verdon, an Irish noble, potentially with the intention of arranging a marriage. Another case is that of Alice de Lacy, who was abducted in 1317 by men loyal to John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, although he ultimately did not marry her. Alice later remarried for love but was abducted again as a widow by Hugh de Freyne when she was 54 years old.
In addition to these examples, it is worth noting that the punishment for capturing a woman was severe. Childebert II, for instance, imposed death or exile, while the secular penalty included a hefty fine or the amount of the brideprice.
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Bridal tours
The honeymoon tradition, as we know it, is a symbol of romance and celebration. However, its origin story is not as cheerful. The custom first originated in the fifth century during medieval times and was known as a "bridal tour". Back then, the groom would kidnap his bride with the intention of impregnating her without her family's consent. The groom would hold the bride captive until either the family gave up the search or the bride became pregnant, making it impossible to nullify the marriage. This ritual was known as "marriage by capture" and was practised in China, South America, East and South Asia, Africa, and some European countries. Poor men in these regions would participate in this custom to avoid paying a dowry.
The term "honeymoon" was coined during this time, in fifth-century Europe, when guests would give the couple of honour a month's worth of honey wine with the hope that it would aid conception. The word "honeymoon" is also derived from the comparison of the couple's mutual affection to the changing moon, which is no sooner full than it begins to wane.
In the early 19th century, the upper-class in Great Britain began taking "bridal tours", escorted by friends or family, to visit relatives who had not attended the wedding. This practice soon spread to the rest of Europe and was known in France as "Voyage à la façon Anglaise" or "English-style voyage".
By the late 19th century, during La Belle Époque and Europe's cultural uprising, newlyweds began taking holiday trips, or "honeymoons", right after their weddings. Cities like Paris, Venice, Rome, and Verona became leading centres of technological, scientific and cultural innovations, offering new and exciting forms of entertainment. Couples would rush to catch a late train or ship to attend grand shows in the many cabarets, bistros or music halls.
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Modern honeymoons became popular in the 19th century
Modern honeymoons, as holiday trips taken by newlyweds immediately after their wedding, became popular in the 19th century. In early 19th-century Britain, upper-class couples would take a "bridal tour", sometimes accompanied by friends or family, to visit relatives who had not been able to attend the wedding. This custom soon spread to the European continent and was known in France as a voyage à la façon anglaise ('English-style voyage') from the 1820s onwards.
The word "honeymoon" to refer to the vacation after the wedding first appeared in a translation of German folk stories in 1791, and then in native English in 1804. However, it wasn't until the late 19th century that the term was widely applied to the wedding trip itself. In 1881, a fashionable magazine declared that "short honeymoons" were now in vogue, and that "a whole month is hopelessly old-fashioned".
By the end of the 19th century, the rise of affordable railway travel allowed even working-class newlyweds to take a special trip to the seaside or the city, while more affluent couples might escape to the continent or plan a ‘bridal tour’ of the Lake District. Honeymoons in the modern sense—a pure holiday voyage undertaken by the couple—became widespread during the Belle Époque as one of the first instances of modern mass tourism. Cities like Paris, Venice, Rome, and Verona offered new and exciting forms of light entertainment in the midst of the industrial revolution. Couples would rush to catch a late train or ship to get a seat in the front rows of some grand show in one of the many cabaret, bistros, or music halls.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the honeymoon tradition first originated in the fifth century during medieval times. The custom, as we know it today, symbolizes romance and celebration, but it stems from "marriage by capture," an ancient practice in which the groom would kidnap his bride with the intention of impregnating her without her family objecting.
In medieval times, the honeymoon ritual had a darker and less romantic purpose. It was related to the practice of "marriage by capture," where the groom would hold the bride captive until her family gave up the search or she became pregnant, making it impossible to nullify the marriage.
Over time, the purpose of honeymoons shifted from the darker origins of "marriage by capture" to a celebration of marriage and a way to deepen the connection between newlyweds. In the early 19th century, upper-class couples in Britain began taking "bridal tours," which were trips to visit relatives who had not attended their wedding. These tours evolved into the modern honeymoon, a holiday for couples to relax, bond, and explore exotic or romantic destinations.
