Part of Speech: adjective
Definition1: calm, peaceful
Definition2: cloudless, bright
Definition3: promising, auspicious
I love cloudless, sunny, peaceful days. Halcyon days, if you will.
But there's more: the halcyon is also a mythical bird, often identified as a kingfisher, that breeds in floating nests on the sea during the winter solstice.
The term comes from the Greek "Alcyone", the daughter of Aeolus (Wind). Her marriage to Ceyx (The Morning Star) was a loving and happy one. And, as couples have a tendency to do, they gave each other pet names: "Zeus" and "Hara", which was really not on. Zeus, infuriated, struck down Ceyx's ship while he was at sea and then got Morpheus, the God of Dreams, to appear to Alcyone as her husband and tell her of his fate. She, distraught, threw herself into the ocean in lament. The Gods then compassionately changed them into halcyon birds.
The 7 halcyon days of Winter occur when Alcyone is laying her eggs. During this time there are no storms over the sea, her father Aeolus reigning in his strength for the safety of his grandchildren. Alcyone is known to charm the wind and waves.
Oh, but there's more!
