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Indian Summer
"Indian summer" refers to a time period in late autumn in the northern hemisphere where, after a period of cooler weather, unseasonably warm and dry weather occurs. It has also come to mean a happy period that can occur later in one's life and may refer to success professionally or personally.

The phrase "Indian summer" is most often associated with the United States and while the true origin is unknown it seems likely to refer to areas where Native Americans lived. It may be the phrase also references the Native Americans using this time of year to harvest their crops and frequent hunting to store up food for the winter.

The first known written occurrence of this phrase was circa 1778 in J. Hector St. John de Crevecoeur's book, 'Letters from an American farmer'. In this book he writes: "Then a severe frost succeeds which prepares it to receive the voluminous coat of snow which is soon to follow; though it is often preceded by a short interval of smoke and mildness, called the Indian Summer."

Use Example - Suzette often said that her favorite time of year was Indian summer with it's brilliant blue skies and lingering warmth that lasted well into the evenings.

Source Tags : Writings     Concept Tags : Weather