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You’ve likely heard the term "Indian summer" used to describe a sudden, unexpected burst of warm weather in the autumn. But what exactly does the phrase mean, where did it come from, and why is it sometimes considered controversial?
This article explores the definition, meteorological conditions, cultural history, and modern usage of this evocative seasonal term. At its simplest, an Indian summer refers to a period of unseasonably warm, dry, and calm weather that occurs in late autumn, typically after the first hard frost has occurred.
Today, whether you call it Indian summer, second summer, or St. Martin's Summer, the experience remains universally understood: those glorious, hazy, unseasonably warm days in late autumn are a reminder that even as seasons turn, nature often has one last, gentle surprise in store.
