Where does the term "Indian summer" come from? Why are warm fall days called that?

Answer 1

One explanation of the term "Indian Summer" might be that the early native Indians chose that time of year as their hunting season. This seems reasonable seeing the fall months are still considered the main hunting season for several animals. Also, the mild and hazy weather encourages the animals out, and the haziness of the air gives the hunter the advantage to sneak up on its prey without being detected. Modern ideas on what an Indian Summer constitutes vary, but the most widely accepted value for determining whether one is experiencing an "Indian Summer" is that the weather must be above 21°C (70 F) for 7 days after the autumnal equinox.

Answer 2

The Indian summer is relevant to locations in the mid-latitudes that experience a pronounced cool season (October to March) and a pronounced warm season (April to September). When the fall season arrives there will be spells of cold or warm weather and also spells of rainy or dry weather in the middle latitudes. Mixed within the cold and/or rainy periods will be periods with above normal temperatures and clear skies. The origin of the use Indian is perhaps due to Native Americans in the past preparing for winter during these warm spells by gathering food and shelter material. The late fall is the time of the year most relevant for the use of the term Indian summer.

Answer 3

The origin of the term Indian Summer to describe this weather regime is uncertain. One explanation suggests that Native Americans recognized the pattern, which they attributed to the good graces of the god of the Southwest. When the Eastern tribes described it to the first European settlers of what is now the United States, the event became known as the Indian's Summer. Another explanation attributes the name to the belief that the haziness of Indian Summer days was caused by prairie fires deliberately set by midwestern tribes.

A more remote origin to the name links it with the marine shipping trade in the Indian Ocean. During the predominately fair weather season, ships would carry extra cargoes. To determine safe load limits, the mariners marked their hulls with the initials I.S. for Indian Summer to indicate the safe loading line for this period. How this term relates to autumn weather on the other side of the globe, however, is uncertain and likely only the coincidental joining of the two words into a similar phrase.

Answer 4

... Word Detective: Where does the expression "waiting with baited breath" come from? ... nothing wrong with "Indian summer" because early uses of the term ...www.word-detective.com/120398.html
Indian summer of a Forsyte
... from those earlier Victorian days when to touch nothing, even with the tips of ... And he called out: "Just drive me to where you took that lady the other night. ...www.ceejbot.com/EricPorter/Forsyte/novels/indian_summer_of_forsyte.php
Summer, Late Summer, Seasonal Healing, Healing with the Seasons, Emotions, Herbal Remedies at Peacefulmind.com - ...
... late August and "Indian Summer" are hotter and damper days rich in humidity and ... the solar plexus is often where we consider our "gut" feeling to come from. ...www.peacefulmind.com/summer.htm
Canadian Weather Almanac: Since You Asked...
Why do they call it "Indian summer"? Where did the phrase "it's raining cats and dogs" come from? ... snow can, and often does, fall. What are les Suêtes? ...members.tripod.com/~MitchellBrown/almanac/since_you_asked.html

Answer 5

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

This a time of warm, sunny weather following the first killing frost, usually in Oct and early Nov. Also check out the above site.