Fun with Idioms: Halcyon Days

I thought I would pull out a golden oldie. When I was in High School, I had a teacher who loved this idiom. She used it to refer to summer vacation, Christmas break, or any opportunity to be away from the day to day grind and off enjoying some rest and relaxation.

According to Greek mythology, Halcyon was the daughter of the Ruler of the Wind. She married King Ceyx of Tachis. By all accounts, it was a true love match. Her husband was a sea-farer and as happens to sailors, he lost his life during a storm. Halcyon learned of his death through a dream, and cast herself upon the waves. In mercy, the gods turned her and her resurrected husband into kingfishers.
A kingfisher as spoken of in the Halcyon myth

A kingfisher.

Great story, right? Well, it does not end there. Zeus was a bit of a jerk. I cannot find what Halcyon and Ceyx did to irritate him, but the King of the Gods would only allow Halcyon to lay her eggs in winter and on the water near the shore where she found her husband's body. After losing several nestings and crying piteously, Zeus relented and asked Poseidon, the God of the Sea, to calm the waves for her. Thus, for a week to tend days every January, the seas calm and the kingfisher's eggs hatch. These days are still celebrated in Greece as "Alkionides Meres" - Halcyon days.

Although not as common as in the past, it is still a phrase one can use to remind others of restful and tranquil times to come, or of the past.

During snow storms where people are housebound for six to ten days, maybe it is a good time for a reminder.