Halcyon Days of December

 

Good morning.  Time is flying by so quickly.  I just can't seem to catch up.  We've our first bit of snow outdoors.  Not much, just enough to make it slippery. Haven't done a lick of shopping for my boys.  Was planning to take about an hour off work this afternoon to run out and see what I could find; after all, I rarely have a lunch hour.  Unfortunately though, we have a training this afternoon....CPR.  It's great to know, but a rather painful training.  I just 'refuse'  to get down on the floor today with that dummy.  They'd better understand that I just 'cannot' do it.   Oh, if every have to save someone, I just know the adrenaline will kick in, but to put myself through torture just to save a dummy?  No thanks.  Besides, I've already had this class twice.  It's not something you easily forget.

December 14th marks the start of the Halcyon Days of December, the 14 day period centered on the Winter Solstice, the time when the sea is commanded to be calm and the wind light by  Aeolus, God of the Winds and one of the lesser Greek deities. In the Mediterranean region where this belief originated, the weather is typically calm around the time of the Winter Solstice as that was supposedly the time when the halcyon, a bird from Greek legend,  calmed the surface of the sea in order to brood her eggs on a floating nest. Halcyon means calm and tranquil, or 'happy or carefree'. It is rarely used now apart from in the expression halcyon days. 

The source of the belief in the bird's power to calm the sea originated in a myth recorded by Ovid. The story goes that Aeolus, the god of the winds, had a daughter named Alcyone, who was married to Ceyx, the king of Thessaly. Ceyx  went to visit the oracle and on the way was drowned at sea in a storm.   Alcyone saw his death in a dream, and threw herself into the sea in grief. The gods took pity on her and transformed her into a bird, so that instead of drowning, she was lifted into the air and carried to her husband by the wind.  He, too, became a bird and joined her in flight across the sky..  Their love lived on, nor in these birds were marriage bonds dissolved, and they soon coupled and were parent birds...

... and ever since, the legend goes, Alcyone carries her dead mate to his burial, then builds a nest and launches it out to sea. There, she lays her eggs and hatches her chicks, brooding over her sea-borne nest for seven placid days before the Winter Solstice and seven becalmed days after....and while she is brooding, the sea is held unusually calm and tranquil to protect Alcyone and his grandchildren. 

 Halcyon means calm and tranquil or happy or carefree .  Our current use of halcyon days leans more towards the nostalgic and recalling of the
“the good old days” or “when life was easy. More often than not, the expression refers sentimentally to a bygone time that we remember as being much more tranquil and prosperous than it really was, so the mythological origin of the term is rather appropriate.  Many of us become nostalgic this time of year and spend time reflecting on our memories of Christmas past...the halcyon days....Remember....


 ...the anticipation and excitement of Christmas you felt the week before
... the wonder and thrill of receiving that special' gift from Santa.

...the innocence and carefree state of mind having off a week or so from school and playing outside in the snow

...building snowmen

...smelling and tasting all those good dishes, desserts, meals and candy that upir grandmother made
...ribbon candy

...getting to stay up way past your normal bedtime

...wishing that the Christmas Season could last for a few months, not just a few days

It is these types of memories each of us have and cherish that make Christmas the special time of year that it is. And, most importantly, it is our responsibility as parent.  For me, Christmas is all of these things, but above all, it is that extraordinarily personal feeling deep inside my heart of Peace, Joy, Goodwill and Love for others.  What are some of your Christmas memories?