 [Index]
Reproduced here are various Mathematical Puzzles from
The Old Farmer's Almanac,
published continuously since 1792. All copyrights hereby acknowledged.
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The 1985 Old Farmer's Almanac
clarifies that Indian Summer is not just any warm fall day but a specific weather
phenomenon marked by warmth, haze, calm winds, high pressure, and chilly nights,
caused by a stalled high-pressure system trapping dust and smoke near the ground;
it must follow a cold spell or frost and traditionally occurs between November 11
(St. Martin's Day) and November 20, differing from England's earlier warm spells
like St. Luke's summer. The term's origin is debated - some tie it to Native American
beliefs or autumn foliage resembling Indigenous attire, but the most likely explanation
stems from early New England settlers, who, after initial cold weather, faced surprise
Native attacks during sudden warm spells, dubbing it Indian Summer, a definition
the Almanac has upheld for nearly 200 years.
Indian Summer: What, Why, and When?
 After Labor Day has passed, it seems that almost
any warm day in the northern part of the United States is referred to by most people
as "Indian summer." And while their error is certainly not of the world-shaking
variety, they are, for the most part, in error.
Besides specific dates, there are certain Indian summer criteria to be met. Indian
summer is warm, of course. In addition, however, the atmosphere during Indian summer
is hazy or smoky, there is no wind, the barometer is standing high, and the nights
are clear and chilly. Meteorologists describe these fall conditions as caused by
conversion of a moving, cool, shallow polar air mass into a deep, warm, and stagnant
anticyclone (high pressure) system, which has the effect of concentrating natural
dust and smoke in the air near the ground and causing a large swing in temperature
between day and night.
The more controversial aspect of Indian summer is the time of its occurrence.
Or whether or not there is a certain time. Most would agree that warm days in the
fall do not of themselves constitute Indian summer unless they follow a spell of
cold weather or a good hard frost.
Beyond that, many references to Indian summer in American literature indicate
a time of "late fall" or "after late October. " This is in contrast, therefore,
with the time of Indian summer in old England, which can come in September, known
then as St. Augustine's summer; in October, St. Luke's summer; or in November, St.
Martin's summer. Those particular saints' days occur August 28, October 18, and
November 11, respectively.
For the past 193 years this publication (as well as many other 19th century almanacs)
has always adhered to the saying, "If All Saints brings out winter, St. Martin's
brings out Indian summer." Accordingly, Indian summer can occur between St. Martin's
Day, November 11, and November 20. If the conditions that constitute Indian summer,
described above, do not occur within those dates, then there is no Indian summer
that year.
If there is a period of warm fall weather at a, time other than between St. Martin's
Day and November 20, then such a time could be correctly described as being like
Indian summer.
Finally, why is Indian summer called Indian summer? Some say it comes to us from
early Indians who believed the condition was caused by a certain wind emanating
from the court of their God Cautantowwit or the Southwestern God. Others feel the
term evolved from the fact that around the time of Indian summer, or shortly before
it, the deciduous trees are "dressed" as colorfully as Indians.
The most probable origin of the term, in our view, goes back to the very early
settlers in New England. Each year they would welcome the arrival of cold wintry
weather in late October when they could leave their stockades without worrying about
Indian attacks and commence preparing their fields for the following spring plantings.
The Indians didn't like attacking in cold weather. But then came a time, almost
every year around St. Martin's Day, when it would suddenly turn warm again, and
the Indians would decide to have one more go at the settlers even though it was
no longer their normal raiding season. "Indian summer," the settlers called it.
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