Halcyon days - the 14 days of calm around solstice - the kingfisher

[robbedvoter]

 

Described By: Pliny- "Halcyons are especially remarkable for this- the seas and those who sail them know the days when they breed.  The bird itself is a little larger than a sparrow, sea-blue in color and reddish on the underside, with white feathers in the neck, and a long slender beak... They breed at midwinter, on what are called "Halcyon days", during which the sea is calm and navigable, especially near Sicily.  They make their nests a week before the shortest day, and lay a week after it."

 The entire beautiful legend here:
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/arc2002/alm02dec2.htm

What's calm winds in the Mediteranean, it's "expand as little energy as possible" in the North (since these are the shortest days)

So, we decide to make these dreaming days. wish-making days.
A nice way to celebrate - on December 14 we put up a little tree (artificial) to which we attach ribbons in symbolic colirs for our wishes...
I also used the Halcyon days as measure (no less than) of the time to have my tree on.