Deborah Chan
The word honeymoon is believed to have originated in medieval times, with the first recorded description of the word dating back to 1542. The term was originally used to describe the first month of marriage, a sweet period of tenderness and pleasure, and comes from the Old English hony moone, with hony referring to honey, and moone referring to the fleeting nature of this period.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First recorded use of the word | 1542 or 1546 |
| First recorded use to refer to a vacation after a wedding | 1791 |
| First recorded native-English use of the word | 1804 |
| First use to refer to a deliberate vacation | 1592 |
| Origin of the word | Medieval times, 5th century |
| Original meaning | The first month of marriage |
| Original meaning denoted by | Couples drinking mead for a month after their wedding |
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What You'll Learn
Mead and moon cycles
Mead, an alcoholic beverage made from honey, is believed to have aphrodisiac properties and was considered to bring good luck and fertility to newlyweds. In medieval times, it was common for newly married couples to drink mead during the first moon cycle of their marriage, which was about 30 days or one month. The word "honeymoon" is thought to have originated from this tradition.
The term "honeymoon" was first used in the 5th century when cultures measured time by moon cycles. The word refers to "honey" because of its sweetness, and "moon" because it lasts about a month. The Oxford English Dictionary explains that the word "honeymoon" also alludes to love waning, just as the moon does over time.
In medieval Europe, newlyweds were gifted a month's worth of mead and encouraged to drink it together daily. This was believed to increase the chances of reproduction. Mead was also considered an aphrodisiac, making it a fitting drink to kick off a marriage. If a baby was born nine months after the wedding, it was often credited to the couple's mead consumption.
The tradition of drinking mead during the honeymoon period was also mentioned in a 1592 literary hoax document, which further contributed to the popularization of the term. Today, while the tradition of drinking mead during the honeymoon may have evolved, the term continues to be associated with the romantic vacation taken by newlyweds to celebrate their marriage.
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Medieval origins
The word "honeymoon" is thought to have originated in the medieval period, specifically in the 5th century. Back then, people measured time in months or moon cycles, and a "moon's worth" was considered to be around a month or 30 days.
During this time, it was common for newlywed couples to drink mead, a fermented beverage made from honey, every day for a moon cycle after their wedding. Mead was believed to be an aphrodisiac, and drinking it was thought to bring good luck and fertility to the couple. This tradition was likely to have stemmed from the belief that it would increase the chances of reproduction.
The word "honeymoon" thus signified a moon's worth of honey wine. The term first appeared in a literary context in 1546, and it referred to the indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newly wed couple. It was also used to describe the first month of marriage, which was believed to be the sweetest time. The ""honey" in honeymoon refers to the sweetness of this period, while the "moon" refers to the fleeting nature of this happiness, as well as the length of time, with the suggestion that love would wane with the moon.
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Old English
The word "honeymoon" is thought to have originated in medieval times, from the Old English "hony moone". The word "honey" refers to the indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newly wed couple, and how sweet the new marriage is. The word "moon" refers to the fleeting amount of time that this sweetness would last. While honeymoon has a positive connotation today, it was first used as a term to warn newlyweds about waning love.
The first recorded description of the word dates back to 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 that it begins to wane…”
A book of 1552 explains that the term “hony mone” originated with “the vulgar people” and was “proverbially applied to such a be newe maried, whiche wyll not fall out at the fyrste, but thone loveth the other at the beginnynge excedyngly, the likelyhode of theyr exceadynge love appearing to asawge...”.
In the mid-18th century, Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary defined it as “the first month after marriage when there is nothing but tenderness and pleasure” – the implication being that their affections would wane with the moon.
In medieval times, the word "honeymoon" carried a much more literal meaning. Couples were bestowed with a moon's worth (roughly one month) of mead (a fermented beverage made from honey) and encouraged to drink together every day. Mead was believed to be an aphrodisiac, and the drinking of it for a month after the wedding was thought to improve the chances of reproduction.
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The evolution of the honeymoon
The word "honeymoon" has evolved significantly over the centuries, both in terms of its etymology and the cultural practices associated with it.
Medieval Times to the 1800s
The term "honeymoon" first appeared in the 5th century, referring to the first month of marriage, which was considered the sweetest time. The "honey" in honeymoon alluded to the sweetness of this period, while "moon" referred to the fleeting nature of this happiness, as it was believed that love would wane with the moon. During this time, couples would drink mead, an alcoholic beverage made from honey, for a month after their wedding, as it was considered an aphrodisiac that would ensure fertility and happiness.
In the early modern era, particularly in the 1800s, the tradition of couples taking a bridal tour immediately after their wedding became popular among the upper classes. This often involved visiting friends and family who couldn't attend the wedding, and it combined the rise of popular travel and tourism.
Late 1800s to Early 1900s
By the late 1800s, the term "honeymoon" began to be associated with the wedding trip itself, rather than just the first month of marriage. This shift marked the beginning of honeymoons as we know them today, with couples seeking romantic and exotic destinations to celebrate their marriage and create memorable experiences.
Early to Mid-1900s
As the length of traditional honeymoon celebrations shortened, honeymoons became more extravagant and adventurous. Journalists of the early 1900s documented newlyweds embarking on unique trips in balloons, caravans, submarines, or even scaling mountains and venturing to the South Pole.
Present Day
Today, honeymoons have become a $12 billion industry, with couples prioritizing personalization and unique experiences. While some opt for traditional romantic getaways, others choose "mini-moons" or "solomoons" (solo honeymoons) to suit their preferences and budgets. The modern purpose of honeymooning also varies by culture, with some using it as a time to get to know one another intimately, while others focus on relaxation and adjusting to married life.
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Modern honeymoon
The modern honeymoon is a vacation taken by newlyweds after their wedding to celebrate their marriage. It is characterised by love and happiness and is often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic. The modern honeymoon has evolved from its medieval origins into a more romantic, consensual vacation. In the modern sense, a honeymoon is a pure holiday voyage undertaken by the couple, without friends or family.
The purpose of the honeymoon varies by culture. For those in an arranged marriage, it is a time to get to know one another, while for some cultures, it is a time for the couple to become sexually intimate. In other cultures, the honeymoon is a time to relax, create shared memorable experiences, and adjust to married life. The modern honeymoon is also an opportunity for couples to spend uninterrupted one-on-one time together, deepen their connection, and create everlasting memories.
There is no rigid formula for modern honeymoons in terms of destination, duration, or itinerary. Couples may seek out destinations and plan activities that coincide with their interests, hobbies, and personalities, whether adventurous or restorative. Personalisation is a key aspect of modern honeymoons, with couples designing their perfect honeymoon, often a mix of relaxation, adventure, cultural immersion, and learning.
An emerging 21st-century trend is the "solomoon" or "unimoon", where newlyweds take separate, solo holidays without their spouse. Another trend is the "buddymoon", where the honeymoon is extended to include close friends or family, either for the entire trip or just the first half. Modern honeymoons may also involve "trip stacking", where multiple vacations are stacked together, lasting weeks or even months instead of the usual seven-day getaway.
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Frequently asked questions
The word "honeymoon" is thought to have originated in medieval times. The term was originally used to describe the first month of marriage, which was believed to be the sweetest time.
In medieval times, it was common for newlywed couples to drink mead, a fermented beverage made from honey, for a moon cycle (30 days) after their wedding. This tradition was believed to bring good luck and fertility to the couple.
The origin of the word "honeymoon" in Old English is "hony moone", with "hony" (honey) referring to the indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newlywed couple, and "moone", referring to the fleeting nature of that very sweetness.
