English Explanatory Dictionary

halcyon days

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A period of calm during the winter, when storms do not occur.
  2. A period of calm, usually in the past and often nostalgic.

Pronunciation

/ˈhælsiːən deɪz/

Word forms

halcyon days

Etymology

From halcyon, from Latin Alcyone, from Ancient Greek Ἀλκυόνη (Alkuónē), daughter of Aeolus and wife of Ceyx. When her husband died in a shipwreck, Alcyone threw herself into the sea whereupon the gods transformed them both into halcyon birds (kingfishers). When Alcyone made her nest on the beach, waves threatened to destroy it. Aeolus restrained his winds and kept them calm during seven days in each year, so she could lay her eggs. These became known as the "halcyon days," when storms do not occur. Today, the term is used to denote a past period that is being remembered for being happy or successful.

Related words

Alcyone back in the day days of wine and roses days of yore halcyon heyday nostalgia salad days

Translations

Chinese Cantonese: 美好嘅日子 Czech: staré zlaté časy Dutch: rustig weer Dutch: vredige tijden Finnish: jäälinnun päivät French: jours heureux German: Halkyonische Tage Greek: αλκυονίδες ημέρες Hungarian: boldog békeidők Hungarian: gyöngyélet Italian: giorni alcionii Latin: alcēdōnia Polish: czasy świetności Spanish: días tranquilos Swedish: glada dagar Swedish: sötebrödsdagar Ukrainian: безтурботні часи Vietnamese: những ngày thanh bình
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