Comments on: "Indian Summers" in England?

By: Danna - cozy mystery list

Danna - cozy mystery list — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:09:47 +0000

Thanks, Stephanie and Kate for helping me out with the Indian Summer deal. I did a little more digging, and found out that the term was "coined" in the United States… But, of course, since we live in such a transient world, it's not like we "own" the term in the States, and no one else is "allowed" to use it!

I just found it a little disconcerting to find the reference in a "British Cozy"…

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:35:51 +0000

According to Wikipedia (an authoritative source, I know!):

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.

By: kate

kate — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:24:32 +0000

I think Indian Summer and Blackberry Fall mean the same thing here and in G.B. The former is when you have an early freeze in the fall followed by a warm-up. The latter is a warmup in the spring followed by a late freeze.
p.s. I really, really appreciate all the work you put into your website. It's a goldmine of info as I constantly have to find new authors for my 79 yr old mom to read (she who has read 2-3 bks/wk all her life).