We all know what the tradition of a honeymoon involves, and most of us have had or would like to have one, but how did this celebrated occasion come to be?

There are many different accounts from many different cultures on how the tradition began, ranging from the typical etymological interpretations to the more drastic stories, told from the earliest days. Although there is no way to tell which theory is the correct one due to thousands of years of twisting and re-telling each story, it does not keep us from speculating and acknowledging each theory in existence— both to add to the intrigue of this celebration and to deepen our historical appreciation for it.

One of the more direct approaches into digging out the history of a term is to dissect the word itself. Various historians agree that the term ‘moon’ represents the time period, a month, while others agree that it represents the full moon of the wedding day.

The etymology of the word honeymoon comes from Old English. It is made up of the two words, ‘hony’ and ‘moone’. Hony, loosely based from honey, refers to the period of tender and sweet pleasure that a newly-wed couple experiences. Moone on the other hand refers to how fleeting the amount of time the sweetness would last. In those times, it was used to warn newlyweds that love would wane and they should prepare for such an instance, but nowadays the honeymoon has a more positive connotation.

It may be a bit frightening to know that the earliest theories, dating back to Attila the Hun in AD 433-453, were based off of kidnapping. The process of kidnapping was considered a practice; where the groom would actually ‘abduct’ the woman he chose to be his bride. The groom, sometimes with the help of his groomsmen, would take the woman into hiding by throwing a blanket over her head and riding off with her on horseback. This is also where the term ‘swept off her feet’ originated from.

The woman would literally be swept off her feet and bundled onto the horse, to be carried wherever the groom intended. The ‘hiding’ would end when the woman’s relatives ceased their searching for her, which was usually about a month according to the phases of the moon. While the couple hid, they would feast on wine made of honey and water.

Of course, this is no longer the practice in modern times, but it always adds to the value of a tradition to know its roots. When you’re ready to have your own honeymoon, whether you avail of an exquisite French honeymoon package or plan your own, you can rest assured there will be no kidnapping involved, even if it says ‘women getaways’. Enjoy your honeymoon!