Golden years

Posted by Masakim on October 06, 2001

In Reply to: Golden years posted by ESC on October 06, 2001

: : I have an elderly friend who asked me if I knew where the phrase "the golden years" came from. (He seems to thonk there is some sarcasm contained therein) I have spent several hours researching his question;to no avail. Can anyone help?

: The information following makes me think "golden years" were an advertising slogan perhaps calling to mind the gold watches of retirement and years in the golden sunlight of Florida:

: " 'Senior citizen' has been a popular euphemism since the 1950s, when the number of older people suddenly seemed to have multiplied. It had: in 1900 the average life expectancy was forty-five, by 1950 the average life span was almost seventy years; the population had doubled but the number of people 65 and over had quadrupled to become 8 percent of the total.In the 1950s, for the first time, millions were reaching the age and had pensions to become 'retirees,' a new American group, and a new word to most. But by now pensions themselves, the small houses built quickly after World War II, and the new Postwar life-styles had destroyed the 'extended family' in which the elderly lived with their children and grandchildren. People began talking about the new 'retirement houses' in 'retirement villages' and 'apartments for seniors' where the elderly, according to the ads, could most happily spend their 'golden years.' Warm places without the rigors of winter and expenses of furnaces and overcoats." From Listening to America: An Illustrated History of Words and Phrases from Our Lively and Splendid Past by Stuart Berg Flexner (Simon and Schuster, New York, 1982).

: This next phrase for old person uses "golden" but it has an opposite reference. Instead of the "golden years" being now, in one's old age, golden refers to the old days.

: "golden-ager - n an old person. US, euphemism. From 'golden age' past period of prosperity or excellence. 1970 Harry Waugh: Frank bought himself a drink in the bar.while watching the golden-agers gossip in the lounge area." From "20th Century Words: The Story of New Words in English Over the Last 100 Years" by John Ayto (Oxford University Press, New York, 1999).

: I am 50 ("young old," according to a quote I saw in the newspaper) and I hope to live to be old old. A cranky old woman who will pummel anyone who calls me a senior citizen.

FYI

The world's great age begins anew,
The golden years return,
The earth doth like a snake renew
Her winter weeds outworn;
Heaven smiles, and faiths and empires gleam,
Like wrecks of a dissolving dream.
--P.B. Shelley, _Hellas_
Laura Ingalls Wilder, _These Happy Golden Years_
Henry Pleasants, ed. & tr., _Vienna's Golden Years of Music 1850-1900_ .
K. N. Cameron, _Shelley: The Golden Years_ .
Arnold Shaw: _Honkers and Shouters: the Golden Years of Rhythm and Blues=
Landon H.C. Robbins, _Mozart: the Golden Years_ ,

• Golden years ESC 10/07/01