Halcyon Days: Spring Appears in the Middle of Winter in Greece
Greece is home to a unique phenomenon known as the Halcyon Days, or Alkyonides Days, bringing a sense of spring amid winter.
During this time temperatures can reach — and in some areas exceed — 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). Such unseasonably warm conditions often draw winter swimmers to beaches for a swim, while others take advantage of the calm weather for walks, outdoor activities, and seaside outings. Meteorologists note that these mild spells typically last several days.
The phrase, translated into “Halcyon days” in English, has a literal meaning of calm, peaceful days. It is the translation of “Alkyonides Meres” in Greek.
The Alkyonides Days may take place from around January 15 to February 15 each year and typically last several days to about two weeks. During this time, conditions are often marked by sunny, cloudless skies and little to no wind, with temperatures rising well above seasonal averages.
Where does the name Halcyon Days come from?
Alkyonides Days are named after the bird Alcyone (halcyon), which lays its eggs during this time of year in the cracks of seaside rocks. The allegorical meaning is of the homonymous star called “Alcyone” in the Pleiades constellation.
During this period, the star Alcyone appears high in the evening sky and, on clear January nights, can be seen within the Pleiades cluster near the highest part of the celestial dome.
As a result of this simple natural event, all the consecutive days that the Alcyone star is visible were named ‘Alkyonides.’
From a meteorological point of view, Alkyonides Days come about as a result of the combination of the latitude of Greece, heightened barometric pressure during this time of year, a lack of wind, cool temperatures, and intense sunshine.
The myth
There are several myths surrounding the phenomenon of the Alkyonides Days, the most common of which is the story of Alcyone, daughter of Aeolus, the Greek god of the wind.
Alcyone was the devoted wife of Ceyx, King of Thessaly in central Greece. Ceyx ruled his kingdom with justice and in peace. Alcyone and Ceyx were admired by gods and mortals alike for their physical beauty and profound love for each other.
Zeus punished the arrogant couple who dared to compare themselves to gods by plunging Ceyx’s ship into the sea and drowning him. Alcyone lamented her loss so much so that she then threw herself into the sea and drowned, determined to join her husband in the land of the dead.
The gods of Olympus were so profoundly affected by the tragic fate of the couple and their abiding love for one another that Zeus transformed the couple into halcyon birds. Yet the birds were still condemned to give birth in the winter every year.
After the waves of the sea crashed into the rocks and destroyed Alcyone’s nest and eggs, Zeus once again felt regretful and ordered the winds to stop and the sun to shine for fifteen days in the heart of the winter so that Alcyone could safely lay her eggs.
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