Here are a few of the more commonly repeated guesses:
- When European settlers first came across the phenomenon in America it became known as the Indian's Summer.
- The haziness of the Indian Summer weather was caused by prairie fires deliberately set by Native American tribes.
- It was the period when First Nations/Native American peoples harvested their crops.
What is Indian summer and why does it exist?
In an article on the US National Weather Service 's web site, weather historian William R. Deedler writes that Indian Summer can be defined as "any spell of warm, quiet, hazy weather that may occur in October or November." It is usually described as occurring after a killing frost.
What caused the haziness of the Indian summer weather?
The haziness of the Indian Summer weather was caused by prairie fires deliberately set by Native American tribes. It was the period when First Nations/Native American peoples harvested their crops. The phenomenon was more common in what were then North American Indian territories.
What happened to the band Indian Summer?
In 1993, the emo band Indian Summer was formed in Oakland, California. They disbanded in 1994. In 2002 Pedro the Lion released the David Bazan penned "Indian Summer" on their album Control.
What is Indian Summer in Minecraft?
Indian Summer, designed by Uwe Rosenberg, is named and themed after the event, and involves players placing leaf-filled tiles on the forest floor. Indian Summer was written by Adalbert Stifter in 1857. Indian Summer was written by William Dean Howells in 1886.
Why did they call it Indian summer?
When European settlers first came across the phenomenon in America it became known as the Indian's Summer. The haziness of the Indian Summer weather was caused by prairie fires deliberately set by Native American tribes. It was the period when First Nations/Native American peoples harvested their crops.
How long does Indian summer usually last?
Indian summer is a period of warm weather following a cold spell or a hard frost. It can occur between St. Martin's Day (November 11) and November 20, although the Almanac adheres to the proverb, “If All Saints' brings out winter, St.
What are the signs of Indian summer?
Here are the criteria for a true Indian summer: As well as being warm, the atmosphere during Indian summer is hazy or smoky, there is no wind, the barometer is standing high, and the nights are clear and chilly.
What is Indian summer called now?
Indian summer is a common occurrence not only in North America but also throughout temperate European countries, where it is most commonly called “St. Martin's Summer.” The name is a reference to St. Martin's Day, which falls on November 11.
Will we have an Indian summer 2021?
Will we have an Indian summer 2021? Beautiful balmy autumnal days are what many of us dream of, but it's too early to tell whether this sunny September spell will last. According to the Bristol Post, this month is likely to be dominated by high pressure, which should bring us fine and settled weather.
What is the politically correct way to say Indian summer?
Martin's summer and all-hallown summer in the United States. As the contemporary political climate in America offers revisions to both history and vernacular, it stands to reason that one day the term Indian summer could meet its social expiration date, and a new name may be needed for this little, second summer.
Is there always an Indian summer?
It does not occur every year, and in some years two or three Indian Summers may occur. Two or three Indian Summers this Fall.
Is Indian summer after the first frost?
An Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Several references describe a true Indian summer as not occurring until after the first frost, or more specifically the first "killing" frost.
Where did Indian summer originate?
He also found the phrase in a letter written in England in 1778, but discounted that as a coincidental use of the phrase. Later research showed that the earliest known reference to Indian summer in its current sense occurs in an essay written in the United States circa 1778 by J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur.
What is Indian summer?
Jump to navigation Jump to search. Period of unseasonably warm weather in autumn. For other uses, see Indian Summer. Indian summer. An Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere during September ...
Who wrote the book An Indian Summer?
An Indian Summer: A Personal Experience of India was written by James Cameron in 1974. Engine Summer written by John Crowley in 1979, is named after and refers to the event, with the spelling changed to reflect the post-apocalyptic setting of the book.
What album did U2 play Indian Summer Sky on?
In 1984, U2 included "Indian Summer Sky" on their The Unforgettable Fire album. In 1987 The Dream Academy recorded their song "Indian Summer" for the album Remembrance Days. In 1987 the band Opal released their version of The Doors song on the Chemical Imbalance Limited Edition 45 (#003).
What is the Indian summer?
In the United States, an Indian summer period occurs when a cool, shallow polar air mass stagnates and becomes a deep, warm high-pressure centre. This centre is characterized by a strong low-level temperature inversion that produces a stable air stratification.
What is an encyclopedia editor?
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...
Where did the term "all-hallown summer" come from?
The term originated in New England and probably arose from the Indians’ practice of gathering winter stores at this time. This autumn warm period also occurs in Europe, where in Britain it is called All-hallown summer or Old Wives’ summer.
What is Indian summer?
We tend to refer to Indian summer as anytime we get an unseasonably warm burst of weather in the fall. But there's an official definition of Indian summer, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, and it has to meet certain criteria: 1 It can't just be any old warm spell. The atmosphere also has to be hazy or smoky with no wind. The barometer must be standing high, and nights should be chilly and clear. 2 The haze and temperature swing between day and night are caused by a moving, cool, shallow polar air mass converting into a deep, warm stagnant high-pressure system. 3 The warm days must follow a burst of cold weather or a good hard frost.
Why was the mini season named?
Some suggested the mini-season was named because it's the time of year when Native Americans typically hunted or because they were the ones who first described it to Europeans. Others theorized that it was named because people noticed the unseasonably warm weather in places where Native Americans lived.
Why does the barometer haze?
The haze and temperature swing between day and night are caused by a moving, cool, shallow polar air mass converting into a deep, warm stagnant high-pressure system. The warm days must follow a burst of cold weather or a good hard frost.
Which countries celebrate St. Martin's Day?
According to the Farmers' Almanac, many countries including England, Italy, Sweden and Portugal have outdoor festivals celebrating the week that includes St. Martin's Day, but there are also variations including celebrations of St. Luke's Summer and "All Hallown Summer" (All Saints Day on Nov. 1).
When was Ton Blackmarine first used?
Ton Blackmarine/Shutterstock. According to the New England Historical Society the earliest use of the expression was in the late 1700s. Boston lexicographer Albert Matthews found it in a letter written in 1778 by a New York farmer, Hector St. John de Crevecoeur, and thought it was commonly used at the time.
Who wrote the history of the Valley of Virginia?
In "History of the Valley of Virginia," Samuel Kercheval wrote that pioneers feared Indian summer. "It afforded the Indians — who during the severe Winter never made any incursions into the settlements — another opportunity of visiting the settlements with destructive warfares.".
Are they becoming more common?
A boiling September day used to be considered something of a freak event but, in recent years, they’ve become rather less shocking. Since the early-Seventies, only six Septembers have recorded a single day in which temperatures in Britain exceeded 30C, according to Met Office data. Three of these six (2020, 2016, 2013) occurred in the last decade.
What causes an Indian summer?
An autumnal heatwave arises from much the same combination of meteorological factors as heatwaves in the summer months. First, a high-pressure weather system moves into the sky over Britain.
But remember... the evenings get cooler much earlier
Temperatures reaching 30C in September can easily feel like a blessing from heaven – and it’s tempting to revert into full summer mode, especially after a summer as disappointing as wet and dismal as much of this year’s was.
And it gets darker, too
Another point to note is that the sun sets sooner in September; it may sound like the most obvious thing known to man, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget when you’re trapped in a glorious haze.
What does Indian summer mean?
What's the meaning of the phrase 'Indian summer'? An unseasonably warm, dry and calm weather, usually following a period of colder weather or frost in the late Autumn (or in the Southern hemisphere, where the term is less common, the late Spring).
What is the name of the Indian summer?
The English already had names for the phenomenon - St. Luke’s Summer, St. Martin’s Summer or All-Hallown Summer and the French also referred to l'été de la Saint-Martin.
When did the term "Indian Summer" come into use?
The term Indian summer reached England in the 19th century, during the heyday of the British Raj in India. This led to the mistaken belief that the term referred to the Indian subcontinent. In fact, the Indians in question were probably the Native Americans. That term began use in the US in the late 18th century.
Where did the phrase "Indian Summer" come from?
What's the origin of the phrase 'Indian summer'? The origin of other 'Indian' phrases, like Indian giver, Indian sign, are well-known as referring to North American Indians - who prefer to be called Native Americans or, in Canada, First Nations.
Is Indian summer a weather singularity?
As a climatic event it is known throughout the world and is technically called a weather singularity, that is, a climatic event that recurs around the same time of year. The frequency, depth and longevity of the ...
Overview
An Indian summer is a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Several references describe a true Indian summer as not occurring until after the first frost, or more specifically the first "killing" frost.
Etymology
The late 19th-century lexicographer Albert Matthews made an exhaustive search of early American literature in an attempt to discover who coined the expression. The earliest reference he found dated to 1851. He also found the phrase in a letter written in England in 1778, but discounted that as a coincidental use of the phrase.
Later research showed that the earliest known reference to Indian summer in its current sense occurs in an essay written in the United States circa 1778 by J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur. The letter was first published in Fren…
Usage
Weather historian William R. Deedler wrote that Indian Summer can be defined as "any spell of warm, quiet, hazy weather that may occur in October or November," though he noted that he "was surprised to read that Indian Summers have been given credit for warm spells as late as December and January." Deedler also noted that some writers only use Indian summer in reference to the weather in New England, "while others have stated it happens over most of the United States, even along the Pacific coast."
Other names and similar phenomena
Similar weather conditions, with local variations also exist. A warm period in autumn is called "Altweibersommer" (de: "old women's summer") in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lithuania, Hungary (Hungarian: vénasszonyok nyara), Estonia (Estonian: vananaistesuvi), and in a number of Slavic-language countries—for example, in Czechia, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Russia and Slovenia, – it is known as "(old) women's summer" (Czech: babí léto, Ukrainian: бабине літо, Polish: babie lato, Slovak: babie leto, Russian: бабье лето, IPA: [ˈbabʲjə ˈlʲetə]. In Bulgaria it is known …
In media
• Indian Summer, designed by Uwe Rosenberg, is named and themed after the event, and involves players placing leaf-filled tiles on the forest floor.
• An Indian Summer: A Personal Experience of India was written by James Cameron in 1974.
• Engine Summer written by John Crowley in 1979, is named after and refers to the event, with the spelling changed to reflect the post-apocalyptic setting of the book.
See also
• Blackberry winter
• Velvet season
Further reading
• Adam Sweeting (2003). Beneath the Second Sun: A Cultural History of Indian Summer. New Hampshire. ISBN 978-1584653141.
External links
• "Indian Summer" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.