Rhiannon Hendricks
The honeymoon tradition, which involves a couple going on a holiday to celebrate their marriage, has existed for centuries. The term 'honeymoon' was first used in the 1500s, and the custom originated in 19th-century Britain. Upper-class couples would take a bridal tour, visiting relatives who had not been able to attend the wedding. The practice soon spread to the European continent and became known as a voyage à la façon anglaise ('English-style voyage') in France. Honeymoons in the modern sense—a holiday voyage undertaken by the couple—became widespread during the Belle Époque in the late 1800s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First recorded use of the word honeymoon | 1791, in a translation of German folk stories |
| First recorded native-English use of the word | 1804 |
| Origin of the word | Old English "hony moone" |
| First use of the word | 1542 or 1546 |
| Origin of the tradition | 19th-century Britain, 5th century, or medieval times |
| Average amount spent on a honeymoon in the US | $4500 |
| Global average of couples taking a honeymoon | 75% |
| Countries where honeymoons are most popular | European countries |
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What You'll Learn
The origin of the word 'honeymoon'
The word "honeymoon" has a long and varied history, with several theories about its origin. The first recorded description of the word comes from 1542, when Samuel Johnson wrote:
> "The first month after marriage, when there is nothing but tenderness and pleasure; originally having no reference to the period of a month, but comparing mutual affection of newly-married persons to the changing moon which is no sooner full than it begins to wane...".
The word "honeymoon" may have been derived from the Old English "hony moone", with "hony" referring to the indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newly-wed couple, and "moone" referring to the fleeting nature of this period. The term was originally used as a warning to newlyweds about the waning of love.
Another theory suggests that the word "honeymoon" originates from the ancient Norse term "hjunottsmanathr", which translates to "honey month". This theory suggests that the tradition involved a period of seclusion for the newlyweds, possibly to evade the bride's family, especially in non-arranged marriages. During this time, the couple would indulge in mead, a sweet wine crafted from fermented honey, which was believed to bring good fortune and enhance marital bliss.
The medieval years in Europe are also thought to have played a role in coining the term "honeymoon". In the 5th century, guests would provide the couple with a month's worth (measured by one moon cycle) of mead, which the couple would then drink over 30 days to improve the likelihood of conception. So, the word "honeymoon" may signify a moon's worth of honey wine.
The custom of couples taking a holiday immediately after marriage, or a bridal tour, became popular in 19th-century Britain, particularly among the upper classes. This tradition combined with the rise of popular travel and tourism in the 1800s, and by the late 1800s, honeymoons started to resemble their modern form.
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The evolution of the honeymoon
The honeymoon, a vacation taken by newlyweds to celebrate their marriage, has evolved significantly over the centuries. The term "honeymoon" itself has a long history, with origins that can be traced back to the 5th century when cultures represented calendar time with moon cycles. The word "honeymoon" is derived from the Old English "hony moone", with "hony" referring to the sweetness of new marriage, and "moone" alluding to the fleeting nature of this period.
In medieval times, the honeymoon had a very different purpose. It was associated with marriage by capture, where the groom would kidnap his bride and keep her in isolation to impregnate her without her family's interference. This practice was common in China, South America, East and South Asia, Africa, and some European countries, often to avoid paying a dowry. During this time, the couple would drink mead, a honey-based alcoholic beverage believed to enhance fertility and marital bliss.
The honeymoon evolved in the 19th century, particularly in Britain, into a bridal tour. Upper-class couples would travel to visit friends and family who couldn't attend their wedding. These trips were sometimes accompanied by a friend or relative of the bride to help her transition into married life. This custom soon spread to the European continent, known in France as "voyage à la façon anglaise" ("English-style voyage").
By the late 19th century, the honeymoon began to resemble its modern form. The rise of popular travel and tourism made it more accessible for couples to embark on a pure holiday voyage, just the two of them, to exotic and romantic destinations. This shift marked a transition from the deceptive and forced nature of medieval honeymoons to a more consensual and celebratory vacation.
Today, honeymoons serve multiple purposes, varying across cultures. They provide an opportunity for couples to relax, bond, and explore new places together. For those in arranged marriages, it is a time to get to know each other, while for others, it is a chance to create shared memories and adjust to married life. The modern honeymoon is a time for celebration, intimacy, and exploration, marking the start of a new chapter in a couple's life together.
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''Bridal tours' in the 19th century
The custom of newlywed couples going on a holiday together, or a honeymoon, originated in 19th-century Britain. During this time, upper-class couples would embark on what was known as a "bridal tour", accompanied by friends or family members, to visit relatives who could not attend the wedding. This practice, which began in the early 1800s, soon spread to continental Europe, where it was known in France as a "voyage à la façon anglaise" or "English-style voyage".
The bridal tour, or honeymoon, in the 19th century often included not just the newly married couple but also their friends and close relatives. The tradition of the honeymoon was usually a trip outside the couple's community to visit relatives who were unable to attend the wedding. The best man would go ahead of the group to the train or boat to take care of the luggage and was the only one entrusted with the secret of the honeymoon destination. It was also customary for the bride to take a female friend with her on the trip, although this practice became less common towards the mid-to-late 19th century.
The word "honeymoon" itself has a long history, with the first recorded description of the term appearing in 1542 by Samuel Johnson, who wrote:
> "The first month after marriage, when there is nothing but tenderness and pleasure; originally having no reference to the period of a month, but comparing mutual affection of newly-married persons to the changing moon which is no sooner full than it begins to wane..."
The term "honeymoon" also has roots in the 5th century when cultures represented calendar time with moon cycles. During this period, a newlywed couple drank mead, or "honey wine", during their first moon of marriage. The alcoholic drink was believed to have aphrodisiac qualities, and the couple was expected to drink it for 30 days to improve the likelihood of conception.
By the late 1800s, the honeymoon had evolved into a more modern form, with couples travelling alone to exotic or romantic destinations, creating shared memories, and adjusting to married life. This evolution continued into the 20th and 21st centuries, with honeymoons becoming a $12 billion-a-year industry, with popular destinations including beach resorts and exotic locations.
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The modern honeymoon
Honeymoons in the modern sense, as a pure holiday voyage undertaken by the couple, became widespread during the Belle Époque in the late 1800s. Today, the purpose of honeymooning varies by culture. For those in arranged marriages, it is a time to get to know one another, while for some cultures, it is the time for the couple to become sexually intimate. For other cultures, the purpose of the honeymoon is to relax, create shared memories, and adjust to married life.
Beach resorts are a preferred location for many couples, and honeymoons contribute a significant amount to the travel industry, with honeymoons being a $12 billion a year industry. In the United States, the average spending on a honeymoon is $4500. While popular destinations change over time, Niagara Falls was a popular choice for Americans in the 1980s due to the high cost of air travel. In the 21st century, an emerging trend is the "solomoon" or "unimoon", where newlyweds take separate, solo holidays.
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The honeymoon industry
In medieval times, the honeymoon had a darker purpose, associated with marriage by capture, where the groom would kidnap his bride to hide her from her family and impregnate her. This practice was also linked to the drinking of honey-mead for a month, believed to have aphrodisiac qualities. However, by the 19th century, the honeymoon had transformed in Britain and America. Upper-class couples would take bridal tours, accompanied by friends or family, to visit relatives who couldn't attend the wedding. This custom soon spread to the European continent, becoming known as a voyage à la façon anglaise ('English-style voyage') in France.
The late 1800s marked a significant shift, with honeymoons starting to resemble their modern form. The rise of popular travel and tourism made honeymoons more accessible, and the focus shifted from visiting family to creating intimate and memorable experiences for the couple. This evolution continued into the 20th century, with adventurous destinations and activities gaining popularity.
Today, the honeymoon industry is a significant part of the global travel market, worth $12 billion annually. Couples often choose idyllic and romantic destinations, such as tropical beach resorts or European city tours, to celebrate their marriage and create lasting memories. The average spending on honeymoons varies, with American couples spending around $4500, while couples in India are less likely to take a honeymoon. The industry has also seen the emergence of new trends, such as the solomoon or unimoon, where newlyweds take separate, solo holidays. Despite these changes, the fundamental purpose of the honeymoon remains: to provide a period of relaxation, bonding, and celebration for newlyweds as they embark on their married life together.
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Frequently asked questions
The first recorded use of the word honeymoon was in 1791 in a translation of German folk stories. The first recorded native-English use of the word was in 1804.
The word honeymoon is derived from the Old English “hony moone”. Hony, a reference to honey, refers to the “indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newly wed couple", and how sweet the new marriage is. Moone, meanwhile, refers to the fleeting amount of time that sweetness would last.
The tradition of honeymooning started in the 19th century in 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.
The honeymoon tradition is based on the practice of marriage by capture, where the groom would kidnap his bride and hide her until her family stopped looking for her, with the intention of impregnating her without her family objecting.
