why when we have a late bit of heat in the summer, is it called an "indian summer"?

Answer 1

Because thats when all the IT professionals from Bombay sell their taxicabs.

Answer 2

I answered this question last night! Pay Attention!!!

An Indian summer dayIndian summer (also called Old Wives' summer in the United Kingdom) is a name given to a period of sunny, warm weather in autumn, not long before winter. This time can be in late October or early November (Northern hemisphere) / late April or early May (Southern hemisphere), usually sometime after the first frost. It can persist for just a few days or weeks.

The dates for Indian summer are very inexact due to the enormous variations in climatic patterns throughout each hemisphere. In the northern U.S. state of Minnesota, for example, warm Indian summer weather generally occurs earlier: in early or mid-October rather than in early November. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, where winter and summer temperatures vary relatively little and some of the warmest weather of the year tends to occur in October. Anyway, the term "Indian summer", if used at all, does not have the same potency as it would in a region with hot summers and very cold winters.

The term is also used metaphorically to refer to anything that blooms late, or unexpectedly, or after it has lost relevance. For example: "The team experienced an Indian summer, winning the series after losing the first six games." Compare this usage to renaissance.

In some regions, such as the southeastern United States, Indian summer is colloquially used to describe the hottest times of the year, typically in late July or August. These are more commonly known as dog days.

The term has been used for well over two centuries. The earliest known use was by French American writer St. John de Crevecoeur in rural New York in 1778. There are several theories as to its etymology:

It may be so named because this was the traditional period where North American First Nations/Native American peoples would harvest their fall crops.
In The Americans, The Colonial Experience, Daniel J. Boorstin speculates that the term originated from raids on European colonies by Indian war parties; these raids usually ended in autumn, hence the extension to summer-like weather was an "Indian" summer. Indeed, two of the three other known uses of the term "Indian summer" in the 18th century are from accounts kept by two Army officers leading retaliation expeditions against Indians for raids on settlers in Ohio and Indiana (1790), and Pennsylvania (1794).[1]
It could be so named because the phenomenon was more common in what were then North American Indian territories, as opposed to the Eastern seaboard.
It may be of Asian Indian, rather than North American Indian, origin. H. E. Ware, an English writer, noted that ships at that time traversing the Indian Ocean loaded up their cargo the most during the "Indian Summer", or fair weather season. Several ships actually had an "I.S." on their hull at the load level thought safe during the Indian Summer.

Answer 3

This is an educated guess, however it's possibly correct.
India's Summertime is almost at it's peak as our Summer turns to Autumn.
So while we're expecting rain and biting wind and instead we're treated to glorious sunshine it's known as an Indian Summer.
Traders used the expression I expect from the mid 'til late 20th Century.
On the other hand, it could be a childish take on the expression "Indian giver" which is to gift someone then take it back... this may be cross cultural (native American?) and is somewhat racist.
In short, I haven't a blinking clue!! lol

Answer 4

Crispy bacon and eggs had it right. An Indian Summer has nothing to do with India. It's basically Canadian. Those last glorious days, when the trees have started to change colour, but it's still warm enough in the middle of the day to enjoy the last rays of sun before the snows set in.

Answer 5

Cos it is meant to be exciting & exotic having a late hot period in the year & it is often hot, sticky & humid like the weather in summer in India.

Answer 6

its only the indians that have the suncream left on the shelve coz tesco is now stocking up 4 xmas

Answer 7

Simply cos, summers in india are very dry and scorching and sometimes it even causes heat waves which brings in plenty of casualities.

Answer 8

Because it's the time of year that Indian tribes would meet up to hold their pow-wows and special dances before winter set in.

Answer 9

Its because the media likes to over-exaggerate every little thing that happens.

Answer 10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_summer

Good question! Here ya' go.