Where Does the Term Indian Summer Originate From

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 it politically correct to say Indian summer?

They feared warmer weather would invite attack, and they coined the expression “Indian summer” to describe the weather conditions that might make them more vulnerable. … So, unlike the expression “Indian giver,” “Indian summer” is politically correct to almost everyone.

What exactly is Indian summer?

An Indian summer is a name often used to describe a warm, calm spell of weather that occurs in autumn. … The Met Office Meteorological Glossary first published in 1916, defines an Indian summer as ‘a warm, calm spell of weather occurring in autumn, especially in October and November.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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