what is indian summer canada

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What is an Indian Summer?

Indian Summer. Indian Summer, popular expression for a period of mild, summerlike weather which occurs in the autumn, usually after the first frost. The origins of the name are obscure, but it was in use early in the 19th century in Canada and even earlier in the US. The Toronto Meteorological Observatory...

When did the Indian Summer start in Canada?

The Toronto Meteorological Observatory (est 1839) recorded the date of certain periodic events, such as Indian summer, until 1871. Almost invariably, its records show that this phenomenon occurred in late October or the first half of November and lasted from a few days to about a week.

What is the origin of the term'Canadian summer'?

The origins of the name are obscure, but it was in use early in the 19th century in Canada and even earlier in the US. The Toronto Meteorological Observatory (est 1839) recorded the date of certain periodic events, such as Indian summer, until 1871.

When is the summer season in Canada?

Officially, the summer in Canada runs from June 20th – September 22nd, but how warm it is will largely depend on where and when. Depending where you go, it can be very hot.

Why is it called Indian summer in Canada?

Some people define Indian summer more specifically as a hot weather that comes after a killing frost in the fall. The origin of the name is quite murky, although does originate in North America. Some believe it was coined by European settlers who observed Indigenous people hunting during hot fall days.

What is considered an Indian summer?

“Indian summer” is a phrase most North Americans use to describe an unseasonably warm and sunny patch of weather during autumn. Weather Historian William R Deedler, of the National Weather Service, describes it as “any spell of warm, quiet, hazy weather that may occur in October or even early November”.

What do they call Indian summer now?

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.

Does an Indian summer mean a cold winter?

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 is the color of an Indian summer?

Red, yellow, orange and ochre — the leaves of the maple, oak and alder trees in the forests of New England literally explode with colour in the Indian summer.

What is the opposite of an Indian summer?

“Indian summer” is a term used to describe an unseasonably warm and sunny patch of weather during autumn when temperatures should have cooled down. Could it be that we are experiencing its opposite — “Indian Winter” — a period of unseasonably chilly weather during spring?!

Why is a warm fall called 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.

Is Indian summer after the first frost?

The time of occurrence is important: The warm days must follow a spell of cold weather or a good hard frost, but also be before first snowfall. The conditions described above also must occur between St. Martin's Day (November 11) and November 20.

Why is it called Indian giving?

Usage. The phrase was first noted in 1765 by Thomas Hutchinson, who characterized an Indian gift as "a present for which an equivalent return is expected," which suggests that the phrase originally referred to a simple exchange of gifts.

How often is Indian summer?

Indian summer may occur several times in some years and not at all in others; it often persists for a week or longer. The nights are cool and may bring frost, and the days have hazy skies and light winds.

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.

Will we get 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.

Why is it called Indian giving?

Usage. The phrase was first noted in 1765 by Thomas Hutchinson, who characterized an Indian gift as "a present for which an equivalent return is expected," which suggests that the phrase originally referred to a simple exchange of gifts.

Foliage – Indian Summer in Canada

The Indian Summer is fundamentally an exceptional period of good weather in autumn with warm, dry and cloudless days and cold nights. This weather period is accompanied by a particularly intense colouring of the forests, also called “foliage”. This spectacle of colours impresses with its intensity and is a special natural phenomenon.

Peaceful travelling in fall

You can experience this natural phenomenon between middle of September and middle of October. Maple and dogwood, birches and oaks then glow in rich shades of ocher, yellow, red or orange.

What is Indian summer?

A moving, cool, shallow polar air mass is converting into a deep, warm, stagnant anticyclone (high pressure) system, which has the effect ...

Why Is it Called an “Indian Summer”?

In parts of Europe, a similar phenomenon is known as an “Old Wives’ Summer” or “St. Martin’s Summer,” but how did the term “Indian summer” come to be? There are many theories, but none is confirmed.

Why do Native Americans use November?

November is the time to get one's last harvest in before winter truly shows its head, so a short period of warm weather would be of note around this time.

Is Indian summer hazy?

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?

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 ...

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 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).

When did the Rippingtons release Indian Summer?

In 1992 , The Rippingtons released "Indian Summer" as the fourth track on their album Weekend in Monaco.

When did U2 release Indian Summer Sky?

In 1984, U2 included "Indian Summer Sky" on their The Unforgettable Fire album.

When was Indian Summer by Joe Walsh recorded?

In 1978 Joe Walsh recorded his song "Indian Summer" for the album But Seriously, Folks....

When is Veranillo in South America?

In temperate parts of South America—such as southernmost Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay —the phenomenon is known as "Veranico", "Veranito" or "Veranillo" (literally, "little summer"), and usually occurs in early autumn between late April and mid-May, when it is known as "Veranico de Maio" ("May's little summer") or as "Veranito de San Juan" ("Saint John's little summer"). Its onset and duration are directly associated with the occurrence of El Niño .

Why is Indian summer called Indian summer?

One theory suggests that early American settlers mistook the sight of sun rays through the hazy autumn air for Native American campfires, resulting in the name “Indian summer.” Others speculate that Native Americans recognized this weather pattern and used the opportunity to gather additional food for the winter.

Who Experiences Indian Summers?

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. Many countries, including England, Italy, Portugal, and Sweden, have traditional outdoor festivals in the week leading up to St. Martin’s Day.

When is Indian summer 2021?

by Farmers' Almanac Staff Updated: February 18, 2021. “Indian summer” is a phrase most North Americans use to describe an unseasonably warm and sunny patch of weather during autumn. In U.S. states that experience enough seasonal variation for a brief warming trend to be noticeable, the phenomena is generally observed anywhere from mid-October ...

When is warm, quiet, hazy weather?

Weather Historian William R Deedler, of the National Weather Service, describes it as “any spell of warm, quiet, hazy weather that may occur in October or even early November”.

When was Indian summer first used?

The term Indian summer has some fairly uncertain origins. The earliest reference found in the literature dates back to Jan. 17, 1778, when J.H. St-John de Crevecoeur wrote in a letter:

What are the conditions for Indian summer?

It is generally accepted that for Indian summer to occur, the following conditions must be met: There needs to have been a hard or killing frost.

Who said "Indian summer"?

As I wrap up this look at Indian summer, I think it’s appropriate to conclude with Walt Whitman ’s perfect quote about it.

When can Indian summers come?

According to the BBC, some people claim that an Indian summer cannot come until after the first damaging frost of autumn, or after a severely cold episode sometimes known as a "Squaw Winter".

What makes an Indian summer?

Autumn heatwaves before the frost of fall really sets in are often referred to as Indian summers, but what exactly makes an Indian summer? Typically, an Indian summer is a period of abnormally warm weather following the freeze of autumn.

Where does the phrase Indian summer come from?

While the exact origins of the phrase are not known, the Met Office says several writers have speculated it may have referred to hazy autumn conditions that allowed Native American Indians to continue hunting — especially in October and November.

When was the second summer day first used?

First used in the eastern United States, these second summer days were first recorded in a letter written by Frenchman John de Crevecoeur dated 17th January 1778. In his letter, he said: "Sometimes the rain is followed by an interval of calm and warm which is called the Indian summer."

When was the term "Indian Summer" first used?

The earliest use of the term that Matthews found was in the 1790s; researchers for the Dictionary of American English later discovered an earlier example, in Letters from an American Farmer. T he French immigrant J. H. St. John de Crèvecoeur, who farmed in the Hudson Valley wrote that, in the fall, the severe frost “is often preceded by a short interval of smoke and mildness, called the Indian Summer.”

Who coined the phrase "Indian Summer"?

The undisputed authority on “Indian summer” is Albert Matthews, a Bostonian who spent 12 years in the late 19th century gathering together dozens of the earliest uses of the phrase.

What is the season of the gossamer?

The word “gossamer” is also associated with late autumn warmth—it either comes from “goose summer” or “go-summer,” a Scottish word that plays on the passing of summer, and is associated with the glossy spider webs that can be found in the fields of this season. Sometimes those webs are also connected to the “old wives’ summer”—they’re supposed to be reminiscent of old women’s hair. In Turkey, they call this time of year “ pastirma summer” because the mild weather of early November is perfect for making the cured, salted meat called pastirma (which gave pastrami its name but is its own delicious thing).

When did the term "season" become popular?

But the phrase didn’t become popular until at least the 1810s. “Many writers previous to 1800 neither employed the term nor recognized the season,” Matthews wrote in his extensive study, published in the Monthly Weather Review. “But by 1798 use of the term spread to New England and “to New York by 1809, to Canada by 1821, and to England by 1830.”

Does Indian summer have disappeared?

As the current high temperatures show, the weather that characterizes “Indian summer” has definitely not disappeared. But that quote offers a hint that the phrase’s growing popularity could have been connected to the absence of native people, rather than any real native practices. Matthews (rightly) dismisses all of the explanations he found as “vague and uncertain.”

What is the best thing about Canada in summer?

Perhaps one of the greatest things about visiting Canada during the summer is the vast amount of festivals spread out across the country. After all, Canadians only have about three months of solid summer weather and we like to enjoy it as much as possible. Whether you’re looking to witness one of the world’s biggest rodeos at the Calgary Stampede or enjoy one of North America’s premier Folk Festivals in Winnipeg, there is a festival for everyone.

How hot is Canada in summer?

Canada is a land of weather extremes. Whereas the winter in Canada can be as cold as -40 Celcius, the summers can be as hot as +40 degrees Celcius.

What is the hottest city in Canada?

The hottest cities would be places like Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver. The prairies, such as southern Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba can be very hot in the peak summer months, whereas southern BC, such as Kelowna and Osoyoos, are some of the hottest regions in the country.

What is the best time to visit a city in Canada?

Whether you’re joining a tour or doing your own self-guided tour around one of Canada’s great cities, the summer is the best time to do it. Stroll the streets of Old Montreal while munching on a bagel, walk around Old Quebec while admiring the only walled city north of Quebec, or walk along the seawall of Vancouver’s Stanley Park. No matter where you go, touring a city or a town during the summer is a wonderful thing to do.

What is the hottest temperature in Canada?

Whereas the winter in Canada can be as cold as -40 Celcius, the summers can be as hot as +40 degrees Celcius. Some of the hottest regions around Canada include interior British Columbia, southern Alberta, and even major cities such as Winnipeg, Toronto, and Montreal.

Why is winter so difficult in Canada?

Even though winter in Canada is remarkably beautiful, it’s also a much more difficult time to visit, due to the cold weather and the slippery roads. Most tourists visit during the summer to avoid the harsh weather and enjoy the super long days of a Canadian summer.

Where to visit in Canada?

For those looking to get a taste of Europe within Canada, you’ll want to head to Montreal and Quebec City, two cities that are only a 3-hour drive apart. Montreal is the most cosmopolitan of the two, so if you’re looking for a big city with lots of shopping, epic nightlife, and a lively atmosphere, Montreal is bound to please. But Quebec City is also a great place to visit. Not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage site thanks to its walled city, but there are so many things to do around the city, including incredible whale watching in Tadoussac.

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

Usage

Other names and similar phenomena

In media

See also

Further reading

External links