Halcyon Days– December 14, 2021

Halcyon Days technically fall in December around the time of the winter solstice each year. Their story goes back to Ancient Greece– of love, gods and goddesses, tragedy on the seas, and birds with wonderful powers. Halcyon Days are sort of distinct as days go. They refer to a period of joy and calm– particularly in the past. Weather-wise, they are a time of calm throughout the winter season, when storms do not take place. Although not a holiday per se, Halcyon Days are still fantastic because they specify fond memories and heat. Simply the facility behind it makes us like December a lot more. We’re already swimming in memories of those long summertimes or that eventful Thanksgiving. Keep in mind amazing stages when everything seemed to click– love, work, and family? Through various seasons or reasons, Halcyon Days advise us of days when we were utterly content.

HISTORY OF HALCYON DAYS
Think Halcyon Days, and it right away carries us to happy areas. Great times in college with good friends.

Fourteen days of nesting. Fourteen gorgeous days of calm seas and weather. The halcyon’s nesting duration typically coincided with the winter season solstice, beginning December 21 or 22.

According to the Roman poet Ovid, halcyon was the goddess Alcyone (or Halcyone) who tossed herself into the sea after her mortal hubby (King Ceyx) drowned. On witnessing this, the gods changed them into birds. Each year, Alycone’s father (Aeolus, the god of winds) would keep the winds soothe a week prior to and after the solstice so the birds can lay their eggs quietly.

As the misconception traveled over centuries and throughout countries, it took on different analyses. The English-speaking world initially came to know of it around the 14th century through translated literary texts. By the 16th century, the word halcyon stopped describing the nesting period of the halcyon and became an expression. In “Henry VI,” Part I, Shakespeare used halcyon days to denote days of calm.

The figurative use appears to have stuck ever since. Currently, the phrase “halcyon days” indicates any duration in the past characterized by extended happiness. In spite of the original Halcyon Days falling in the dead of winter season, we now use the expression to denote sunny, happy days.

HALCYON DAYS TIMELINE
414 B.C.
Early References
Aristophanes, a comic playwright in Ancient Athens, mentions the halcyon in his work “The Birds.”

~ 8 B.C
. The Story in Ovid’s “Metamorphoses”.
Ovid writes about the myth of Halcyone and Ceyx in his renowned work, “Metamorphoses.”.

1398.
The Myth Surfaces in Middle English Texts.
” In the cliffe of a ponde of ocean, Alcion, a see foule, in wynter maketh her neste and layeth egges”– from John Trevisa’s translation of “De proprietatibus.”.

1590s.
The Phrase “Halcyon Days” is Born.
William Shakespeare utilizes the term figuratively to indicate days of serenity.

HALCYON DAYS FAQS.
What is the significance of ‘Halcyon Days’?
The term ‘Halcyon Days’ refers to a time of idyll. It indicates an exceptionally pleased or successful duration in the past.

Is Halcyon Days an idiom?
We utilize Halcyon Days as an idiom today to keep in mind a time of extended pleasure and success. In Greek mythology, the term describes relax winds a week prior to and after the winter solstice. All of it was made possible by the legendary halcyon bird.

Are Halcyon Days a vacation?
Halcyon Days aren’t vacations. If you follow the source of the story, Halcyon Days fall on 14 days around the winter season solstice. Figuratively, they suggest at any time of extended happiness or satisfaction.

HOW TO CELEBRATE HALCYON DAYS.
Read about the misconception.
Huddle with a book and deep dive into the origins of the story. You may soon find yourself down an interesting rabbit hole of Greek folklore.

Take a nostalgic trip.
That indicates different things for various people. Anything that takes you back to those sweet Halcyon Days.

Make new memories.
We enjoy thinking back. But it’s fantastic to turn the script to what the past means for the present. In the spirit of the event, remember to develop Halcyon Days with your enjoyed ones today.

5 TRUTHS ABOUT THE WINTER SEASON SOLSTICE THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.
It’s actually a time, not a day.
The Winter Solstice describes the exact time when the sun is above the Tropic of Capricorn.

The day keeps changing.
Considering that there’s no defined time for the sun to reach its lower point, winter solstice can fall anytime between December 20 to 23.

The earth tilts away from the sun.
We have shorter days and longer periods of darkness because of how far the earth tilts away from the sun.

The longest night of the year.
Winter season solstice suggests the longest night of the year for the Northern Hemisphere.

But not always the coldest.
January is typically cooler because there’s a seasonal lag between air temperature levels and the quantity of daytime.

WHY WE LOVE HALCYON DAYS.
Memories of joyous times.
Halcyon Days is an infinitely lovely idea. They’re days to take in the excellent memories. We might have today, however unique minutes in the past do keep us going.

Linking us to different times and areas.
Isn’t it terrific to connect to stories and universes larger than ourselves? And in this circumstances, it occurs simply through the saying “halcyon days.” It restores lovely personal memories, but also includes a world of stories in itself.

Winter Solstice magic.
Numerous communities worldwide believe in the power of the winter solstice. The story of Halcyone is yet another factor to celebrate and marvel at this wonderful time of the year.