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The honeymoon is a widely popular post-wedding tradition, with 75% of couples in a global survey having taken one. The tradition, which typically refers to a trip taken by newlyweds immediately after their wedding, first originated in the fifth century during medieval times. The word 'honeymoon' comes from the Old English 'hony moone', with 'hony' (or '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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | The honeymoon tradition first originated in the fifth century during medieval times. |
| Original purpose | "Marriage by capture", where the groom would kidnap his bride with the intention of impregnating her without her family objecting. |
| Term origin | The term "honeymoon" possibly comes from the Old English "hony moone", Norse "hjunotts-manathr", or the Old Norse "honey month". |
| Term meaning | "Hony" refers to the indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newlywed couple, and "moone" refers to the fleeting nature of that sweetness. |
| Modern purpose | Celebrating their marriage and furthering their romance, creating a shared memorable experience, and adjusting to married life. |
| Modern trends | "Buddymoons", where newlyweds bring friends along; "Minimoons", where couples take a shorter trip; and "Solomoons" or "Unimoons", where newlyweds vacation separately. |
| Popularity | In a survey of 15 countries, an average of 75% of couples took a honeymoon, with beach resorts being the preferred location. |
| Average spend | In the United States, an average couple spends $4500 for their honeymoon. |
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What You'll Learn
The honeymoon tradition's origin story
The honeymoon, a post-wedding vacation for newlyweds, has evolved over the years to become a widely popular tradition. However, its origin story is not as cheerful as the modern-day concept. The word "honeymoon" possibly comes from the Old English "hony moone", with hony or honey referring to the "indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newly wed couple", and moone referring to the fleeting nature of that very sweetness. The term first appeared in 1791 in a translation of German folk stories and then in native English literature in 1804.
The tradition of the honeymoon first originated in the fifth century during medieval times. It derives from the ancient practice of "marriage by capture", where the groom would kidnap his bride with the intention of impregnating her without her family objecting. The groom would hold the bride captive until either her family gave up the search or she became pregnant, making it impossible to nullify the marriage. This custom was practised in China, South America, East and South Asia, Africa, and some European countries, where poor men could avoid paying a dowry by capturing their brides.
In the 19th century, upper-class couples in Britain would take a "bridal tour", sometimes accompanied by friends or family, to visit relatives who had not been able to attend the wedding. This practice 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 custom of the honeymoon in the modern sense—a pure holiday voyage undertaken by the couple—became widespread during the Belle Époque in the late 1800s.
Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic, and the itinerary is personalised to reflect the interests, hobbies, and personalities of the couple. Honeymoons are most popular in European countries, with an average of 75% of couples taking one, according to the 2023 Global Wedding Report by The Knot. In the United States, couples spend an average of $4500 on their honeymoon.
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The modern honeymoon
Honeymoons today are often exotic or romantic getaways to destinations like Puerto Rico or Sydney, Australia, made possible by the accessibility of air travel. Couples usually seek out locations and activities that align with their interests, hobbies, and personalities. The trend now is towards personalized honeymoons, with customized spa treatments, adventurous excursions, and culinary tours.
Honeymoon funds are now commonplace on registries, reflecting the desire for a memorable trip over material gifts. Hotels and spas cater to this with honeymoon packages, often with a sultry twist, including mood lighting, sex toys, and more. Some couples opt for a "minimoon", a shorter and more budget-friendly trip, while others invite friends along on a "buddymoon". An emerging trend is the "solomoon" or "unimoon", where newlyweds take separate, solo holidays.
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The etymology of the word 'honeymoon'
The word "honeymoon" first appeared in English in 1791 in a translation of German folk stories, and then again in 1804 in a native English text. The tradition of honeymooning, however, is much older, dating back to the fifth century.
The word "honeymoon" comes from the Old English "hony moone", with "hony" (or "honey") referring to the indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newly wed couple and "moone" referring to the fleeting nature of that very sweetness. The word may allude to the idea that the first month of marriage is the sweetest.
There are several other theories about the origin of the word. One is that it comes from the Norse "hjunotts-manathr", which refers to two customs. The first is the Northern European custom where newlywed couples would drink mead (honey wine) daily. In this context, the honeymoon, or honey month, referred to a dual play on the meaning of honey, with a cynical view of marriage that it would only go downhill from that first, blissful month of drinking honey wine. The second origin is less pleasant, referring to when a man abducted a woman to marry her and had to go into hiding with her until the woman's family accepted the match.
Another theory is that the word comes from the "Mead Moon" or "Honey Moon", an old name for the June full moon. June was and is a prime month for both marriage and honey harvesting. A similar word exists in Persian, "mah-e-asal", which translates to "month of honey" or "moon of honey".
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The honeymoon's original purpose
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 originates 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 would either give up the search or the bride would become pregnant, making all questions of her return moot". With either outcome, the couple wouldn’t be able to nullify their marriage.
The medieval years were also responsible for coining the term "honeymoon". In fifth-century Europe, guests would give the couple of honour a month's worth of mead, a beverage made with honey, to drink daily. The honeymoon, or "honey month", referred to a dual play on the meaning of honey, alluding to the cynical view that the first month of marriage is the sweetest and that it would only go downhill from there. The word "honeymoon" may also refer to the non-romantic medieval belief that love tends to wane as the moon does.
In the 19th century, upper-class couples in Britain would take a "bridal tour", sometimes accompanied by friends or family, to visit relatives who had not been able to attend the wedding. The 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. Honeymoons in the modern sense—a pure holiday voyage undertaken by the couple—became widespread during the Belle Époque in the late 1800s.
Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic, and the itinerary is personalized to reflect the interests, hobbies, and personalities of the couple.
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The evolution of the honeymoon
The honeymoon, a post-wedding vacation for newlyweds, has evolved over the centuries. The tradition, which typically symbolises romance and celebration, has its origins in the fifth century during medieval times.
Medieval Times
The word "honeymoon" possibly comes from the Old Norse "hjunotts-manathr" or the Old English "hony moone". The term may refer to the "Mead Moon" or "Honey Moon", an old name for the June full moon, a prime month for marriage and honey harvesting. The Norse word may also refer to when a man abducted a woman to marry her and had to go into hiding with his bride until her family accepted the match. This was known as "'marriage by capture'" and was practised in China, South America, East and South Asia, Africa, and some European countries.
19th Century
In 19th-century Britain, betrothed couples went on a "'bridal tour'", travelling together to visit friends and family who hadn't attended the wedding. This practice 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.
Belle Époque
Honeymoons in the modern sense, as a holiday voyage undertaken by the couple alone, became widespread during the Belle Époque in the late 1800s.
20th and 21st Centuries
Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic, with beach resorts being a popular choice. Couples usually seek out destinations and plan activities that coincide with their interests, hobbies, and personalities, whether adventurous or restorative. The modern honeymoon is also a time for couples to relax, create shared memorable experiences, and adjust to married life.
In the 21st century, emerging trends include the "solomoon" or "unimoon", where newlyweds take separate, solo holidays, and the "buddymoon", where friends accompany the couple on their honeymoon.
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Frequently asked questions
Today, a honeymoon is a holiday taken by newlyweds after their wedding to celebrate their marriage. It is often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic.
The term 'honeymoon' possibly comes from the Old English "hony moone", with 'hony' (or '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.
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 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 purpose of the honeymoon differs across cultures. For those in an arranged marriage, a honeymoon is a time to get to know one another. For some cultures, it is a time for the couple to become sexually intimate. In other cultures, the honeymoon mainly involves spending time to relax, creating a shared memorable experience for the couple, and adjusting to married life.
In 19th-century Britain, betrothed couples were made to go on a 'bridal tour' where they travelled together to visit friends and family who hadn't attended the wedding. By the 1800s, the custom evolved to allow for newlyweds to spend more alone time. Today, modern honeymoons don't have a rigid formula in terms of destination, duration, and itinerary, but they share the same intention: celebrating their marriage and furthering their romance.
