Why Is It Called a Honeymoon?
Today, a honeymoon is the name of the trip a couple takes just after they are married. It can also refer to the period of time just after the wedding when the couple can celebrate and enjoy each other before it’s time to get back to reality and careers, the household, and regular life in general. Many couples wonder where the term “honeymoon” came from and why that specific period or trip is referred to as such. They might be surprised to know that originally, the term wasn’t exactly a positive one.
The etymology of the word honeymoon is from “hony moone,” circa 1540, which means an “indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newlywed couple.” Basically, the word “honey” referred to the sweetness of the period just after marrying and “moon” was in reference to how long this sweet period would last. It was thought that it would last no more than a month; that the sweetness would wane within a month’s time. The earliest known literary reference to the word honeymoon is found in Richard Huloet’s Abecedarium Anglico Latinum, which discusses the enhanced loving feeling at the beginning of the marriage.
Later, the word honeymoon simply became known as a post-wedding holiday for the happy couple, but the idea of a honeymoon can be found as far back as the bible. Deuteronomy 24:5 states that “when a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him. He shall be exempt for one year for the sake of his family, to bring joy to the wife he has married.” Despite all the controversial information regarding the honeymoon, most will agree that it’s one of the most exciting and happiest times for a couple, and certainly something to be enjoyed while it lasts.
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