SPOONING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1938, Page 4

SPOONING

How many people know how the term “spooning” originated? Most of us have the idea that it is a disparaging term for an adolescent form of love-making. But such is not the case. In a sixteenth-century edition 'of an old English book, one can find that a young man who was in love with a girl would begin his courtship with the presentation of a love-spoon. In those days spoons were nearly all made of wood with a bowl at each end. In this manner he would signify that he was prepared to feed two mouths instead of one.

A clever lover would spend hours artistically carving ornaments and birds on the handle and bowls of the love-spoons. If the girl looked favourably on his overtures, she accepted the gift, which meant she was willing to take him as a suitor and permit him to make love to her. Many of these spoons, beautifully carved, are in the London Museum.

Thus, so far the term signifying a light or foolish flirtation, “spooning” meant a serious courtship, which was practically equivalent to an engagement, and was expected to end in marriage.