what does indian summer mean?

Answer 1

Indian summer is a name given to a period of sunny, warm weather just before winter in northern North America. This time is usually in late October or early November sometime after the first frost. It can persist for just a few days or sometimes over a week.

The term is also used metaphorically to refer to anything that blooms late, or unexpectedly, or after is has been assumed to be no longer interesting or relevant. For example: "The team experienced an Indian summer, winning the series after losing the first six games". Compare this usage to renaissance.

The term has been used for well over two centuries and its origins have been lost. There are several theories as to its etymology:

• It may be so named because this was the traditional period where First Nations peoples would harvest their fall crops.

• In The Americans, The Colonial Experience, Daniel J. Boorstin speculates that 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. This is unlikely, as the first recorded instance of the term happened in 1778, by which time such raids would have become uncommon.

• It could be so named because the phenomenon was more common in what was then Indian territories, as opposed to the Eastern seaboard.

• It could have come from the racist use of the adjective "Indian" to mean deceitful, as in "Indian giver."

Answer 2

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.
It may be so named because this was the traditional period where North American First Nations/Native American peoples would harvest their fall crops.
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

An Indian Summer is a summer that comes late in the season - so hot days in October are called an Indian Summer.

Answer 4

My son just finished a story that is supposedly historically based about a boy who was on a ship filled with colonists heading to America. They encountered problems and arrived late, in the fall instead of the expected summer time. Since the weather was getting colder, they decided they would have to head back to England because they would not have time to build adequate shelters before winter. As the story goes, a young Native boy and girl were playing in the woods and accidentally started a fire, a boy from the ship helped put out the fire and quickly built a trust with the children. Through their rudimentary communication, he let them know they were leaving because of the onset of winter. The children insisted the summer was not over and in a few days they would have another spell of warm weather. The boy ran back and convinced his father that the warm weather would return. The colonists stayed and were able to build homes during the unusual (to them) Indian Summer. Ok, maybe there is something to the story? Maybe not, but the colonists had never experienced such a weather phenomenon before coming to America.

Answer 5

Indian 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.

Answer 6

First of all, Indian here means north American Indian. Those glorious days when the leaves on the trees are changing from green to beige to brown to russet. The sky is an intense blue with just the odd cloud for contrast. And though there's a chill in the air, at mid-day you still don't really need a coat. The geese are overhead - winter's on its way - just enjoy it while you can. 'Season of mist and ---' . The Fall, Autumn. Running barefoot through the woods, kicking up the fallen leaves.

Answer 7

Indian summer is a name given to a period of sunny, warm weather just before winter. This time is usually in late October or early November (Northern hemisphere) / late April or early May (Southern hemisphere), sometime after the first frost. It can persist for just a few days or sometimes over a week.

Answer 8

In other countries the summer will be hot but it won't be humid
but here it is different so peoples say indian summer
it means hot and humid in summer time and also
it will be sweating in the day time

Answer 9

The term Indian Summer dates back to the 18th century in the United States.

It can be defined as any spell of warm, quiet, hazy weather that may occur in September, October or even early November.

Answer 10

Simply summer means hot,tiery and sweating season.
In INDIA as it is a country of diversities in season also. This sub-continent is spread from Northern hemisphere to Southern hemisphere, represents the almost all kind of season . That's why at different Time, summer occures in different places.
In hills- Only one month May/June
In North- April to Oct.
Below Equatorial zone- Almost all the months
are hot.
In Deserts -Sunny days are Hot and nights are
cold. March to Oct. because of dry
and windy environment.