Indian summer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Indian summer is a name given to a period of sunny, warm weather in autumn, not long before winter. Usually occurring after the first frost, Indian summer can be in September, October, or November in the northern hemisphere, and March, April, or early May in the Southern hemisphere. It can persist for a few days or extend to a week or more.
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[edit] Overview
The dates between which Indian summer can be said to occur are necessarily inexact because of 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 mid October rather than early November. San Francisco exemplifies Indian summer as September is the warmest month with warm weather persisting into early October.[1]
[edit] Usage
Modern ideas on what an Indian summer constitutes vary, but the most widely accepted value for determining whether an Indian summer is occurring is that the weather must be above 21°C (70°F) for seven days after the autumnal equinox.
In Canada and in the Northeast part of the United States, a ground frost must have been present before the wave of warmer weather, if the period is to be considered Indian summer.
In some regions of the southeastern United States, Indian summer is colloquially used to describe the hottest times of the year, typically in late July or August. But in the South as elsewhere, this period is more commonly known as the dog days, in reference to the appearance of Sirius – the "Dog Star" – to the Ancient Greeks.
The term is also used metaphorically to refer to a late blooming of something, often unexpectedly, or after it has lost relevance. This is comparable to the use of the term renaissance in the sense of "revival", but it carries the added connotation that the revival is temporary. The most famous use of the phrase in American literature is Van Wyck Brooks' "New England: Indian Summer," a sequel to his Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Flowering of New England."
[edit] Origins
[edit] Similar usages in Europe
In former times in Europe, Indian summer was called Saint Martin's Summer, referring to St. Martin's day, November 11, when it was supposed to end. In British English "St. Martin's Summer" was the most widely used term until the American phrase Indian Summer became better known in the 20th century. In Italy, St Martin's summer (Estate di San Martino) was expected and celebrated as a rural tradition with ancient origins, and is marked by a festival throughout the peninsula on November 11. In Spain, it is called Veranillo de San Miguel or Veranillo de San Martín, depending on which date it occurs. It can also be called Veranillo del Membrillo (little summer of the quince). In Russia, it is called Women's Summer / Babye Leto (Бабье лето). In Galicia (northern Spain), it is called Veraniño de San Martiño, and in Portugal it is called "Verão de São Martinho," both of which refer to St. Martin's summer. In both cases, it is celebrated in rural areas with Magostos (Magusto in Portuguese, from Magnus Ustus, Big Fire in reference to the magical nature of fire), a celebration of Celtic origins in which bonfires, roasted chestnuts and wine have an important role.
In Bulgaria, the phenomenon is sometimes called "Gypsy Summer" (Bulgarian: циганско лято, tsigansko lyato) and in some places "Gypsy Christmas" and refers to unseasonably warm weather in late fall, or a warm spell in between cold periods.
In Sweden it is called "brittsommar", which is derived from Birgitta and Britta, who have their "name day" in the Swedish calendar on October 7. That is when Britt Mass, an official fall open-air market, was held.
In Germany and Austria it is called "Altweibersommer" (Old Ladies Summer) because the many white spider silks seen at this time of the year were have been associated with the norns of Norse folklore or medieval witches.
The Finnish term Ruska describes a similar spectacle in Lapland. In combination with polar lights, midnight sun and leave color is a major tourist attraction in September.
An alternative to St Martin's summer was "Saint Luke's summer", as the saint's feast day is October 18. Another alternative was "All-hallown summer", as Halloween is October 31; the expression is used in Shakespeare's King Henry IV, Part 1, Act 1 Scene 2.
There are around 43 different theories concerning the origin of the term.[citation needed]
[edit] The etymology of "Indian Summer"
The term Indian summer has been used for more than 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:
- 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 in the fall as an Indian summer. Two of the three other known uses of the term 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 in 1790, and Pennsylvania in 1794.[2]
- It may be so named because this was the traditional period during which early North Americans First Nations/Native American harvested their crops of squash and corn.
- Because Native Americans were often seen by European settlers as deceitful and treacherous, the phrase Indian summer may simply have been a way of saying "false summer." This is how the term Indian giver was coined for people who take back presents they have bestowed.[3]
[edit] In popular culture
- Indian Summer (Victor Herbert Song), is a jazz standard originally written as a piano piece by the prolific composer Victor Herbert. Al Dubin later wrote the lyrics. In 1940 Tommy Dorsey's orchestra, with vocalist Frank Sinatra, took it to number one on Your Hit Parade. Sinatra would again make the song popular in 1968 when he recorded it on his album Francis A. & Edward K. featuring Duke Ellington and his big band.
- Joe Walsh has a song called "Indian Summer" on the 1978 album "But Seriously, Folks…"
- Beat Happening have a song called "Indian Summer" on the album Jamboree (Beat Happening album)
- Manic Street Preachers have a song called "Indian Summer".
- The Doors have a song called "Indian Summer" on the album Morrison Hotel.
- Glenn Miller and his orchestra recorded a song called "Indian Summer".
- Pedro the Lion included a song called "Indian Summer" on their album Control.
- Joe Dassin has a song called "L'ete Indien", or "Indian Summer".
- "Indian Summer" (the movie) was produced and written by Mike Binder in 1993.
- Country music duo, Brooks and Dunn, have a song called "Indian Summer" which was released in 2009.
- Katy Perry also makes a reference to Indian Summer in her single Thinking of You.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Historical Weather for San Francisco, California, United States of America". Weatherbase.com. http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=149427. Retrieved on 2008-09-04.
- ^ Sweeting, Adam (2003). Beneath the Second Sun: A Cultural History of Indian Summer. University Press of New England. pp. 16. ISBN.
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9403EFDA1139F933A25752C1A960958260
