Why Do We Call It a Honeymoon? | Smartest Year Ever (Aug 18, 2025)

Why do we call it a honeymoon? Is it really about sweetness and romance… or something else entirely?

In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy digs into the surprisingly dark origins of a word we now associate with tropical getaways and towel swans. From 16th-century English proverbs to Victorian bridal tours, and a myth about mead and fertility, this short, punchy history will change how you see the term forever.

Along the way, we explore how language evolves—and how a term that once meant "love won’t last" became a multi-billion-dollar vacation industry. Honeymoon? More like poetic red flag.

Perfect for fans of etymology, folklore, relationship psychology, and anyone who enjoys being the most interesting person at brunch.

💡Like, comment, and share with someone who's ever said "we're still in the honeymoon phase..." 🎯New facts, daily. Stay curious.

Sources:

• Oxford University Press. (2025). Honeymoon, n. OED Online. https://www.oed.com
  

• Harper, D. (2025). Honeymoon. Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/honeymoon
  

• Heywood, J. (1546). A Dialogue Containing the Number in Effect of All the Proverbs in the English Tongue.
  

• McNeill, J. T. (1951). A History of the Cure of Souls. Harper & Row.
  

• Ayto, J. (1990). Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. Oxford University Press.
  

• Routh, J. (1976). The Victorian Honeymoon. David & Charles.
  

• Simpson, J. (2000). The Folklore of Weddings and Marriage. Batsford.
  

• #WordOrigins #LanguageHistory #HistoryFacts #weddingfacts #honeymoon #DailyFacts Music thanks to Zapsplat.