Where does the word honeymoon come from?

Answer 1

1546, hony moone, but probably much older, from honey in reference to the new marriage's sweetness, and moon in reference to how long it would probably last, or from the changing aspect of the moon: no sooner full than it begins to wane. Fr. has cognate lune de miel, but Ger. version is flitterwochen (pl.), from flitter "tinsel."

Answer 2

The drunken bridegroom story is an urban myth and has no truth to it. Webster's dates the word "honeymoon" to 1546, well after the 4,000 years ago the "honey mead" story was supposed to have happened. The explanation of "honeymoon" is that the first month or so of any marriage is the "sweetest," free of the stresses and strains which later try every marriage. I say "month or so," but there's no evidence that the "moon" in "honeymoon" has anything to do with the lunar cycle. A more plausible interpretation, first proposed by Samuel Johnson, is that "moon" really refers to the waxing and waning of the moon. In this somewhat cynical scenario, the "moon" of marriage is full at its start, leaving only the natural waning to follow. Of course, the moon always waxes full again, so hope springs eternal. Can't tell you about any honeymoon locations in India, but perhaps you should post this as a separate question and put it in the weddings section.

Answer 3

It was the accepted practice in Anglo-Saxon England years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink (it was supposed to make the wife fertile and the husband virile). Mead is a honey wine, and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the
"honey month" or what we know today as the "honeymoon."

Answer 4

This comes from the time when the first month (moon) was concidered to be as sweet as honey. BNefore you got down to every day life. Honeymoon.

Answer 5

It has to do with the phases of the moon on a 29 day cycle in which the man and woman engage in their activities , that is all activities in that time period beginning with the new moon and ending with the 2nd new moon. This can also be done with any stages of the moon but only one phase of the moon in the new first quarter, full and last quarter moon

Answer 6

Around the 14th century it was common practise for newlyweds to stay in bed together for one moon period
(28 days) and they lived in bread and MEAD (a drink made from Honey) so their nuptual period was call the Honey moon.
And it still is today except the 2 words have become one.

Answer 7

Putting it simply, it was that charmed period when married love was at first as sweet as honey, but which waned like the moon and in roughly the same period of time.

Answer 8

I think it was a Islamic tradition, after marriage one of the partners would feed the other a spoonful of honey or mead for a month.

Answer 9

ahhh in days of old... the honey moon describes a period of marital bliss for the period of the fisrt moon cycle, 28days, when Mr & Mrs didnt leave the marital bed...

Answer 10

it comes from a salad.....lettuce alone.