How the Indian summer came to his name


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In October, when the temperatures get cooler, we prepare for autumn. But often this is exactly the time when the sun sets over the landscape like a warm coat, so that the summer seems to rebel one last time: the leaves of the deciduous trees turn from green to bright yellow or orange red. Crystal clear air and calm days give us a great view. Between the branches of the shrubs and trees are fine filaments to be discovered whose ends are buzzing through the air. This phenomenon is commonly known as Indian summer.

Late good weather period

The trigger for the Indian summer is a good weather period, which is characterized by a cool-dry weather. The reason for this is an area of ​​high pressure that allows dry continental air to flow into Central Europe. As a result, the foliage of the trees discolored faster. The calm weather conditions come about when there are hardly any changes in the air pressure over the land masses. The Indian summer occurs mostly from the end of September, about our calendar beginning of autumn, on a regular basis: in five of six years, he arrives with us, according to records for about 200 years. Therefore, meteorologists call the Indian summer a "weather rule". This refers to weather conditions that occur with very high probability during certain periods of the year. Once entered, the good weather period can last until the end of October. While the thermometer during the day exceeds the 20-degree mark, it cools down at night due to the cloudless sky - first ground frosts are not uncommon.

Spider threads as a typical feature

Typical of the Indian summer are the filaments in the morning, which beautify the gardens with their silvery shine. They come from young canopy spiders that sail through the air with their help. Due to the thermals, the spiders can only be carried by the air when it is warm and windless. The cobwebs tell us so: In the coming weeks, there is nice weather.

Cobweb with morning dew

The morning dew makes the fine threads and nets of the spiders clearly visible in Indian summer

origin of the name

The threads are probably also the ones that gave the Indian summer their name: "Weiben" is old German term for the weaving of cobwebs, but it was also used as a synonym for "waving" or "fluttering" and is now largely disappeared from the linguistic usage, By contrast, the term Indian summer has been around since 1800.

Myths and legends around the Indian summer

Many myths are entwined with the spun threads of the Indian summer and their meaning: Since the threads shine in the sunlight like long, silver hair, it was said in the vernacular that old women - at that time not a dirty word - would have lost these "hair" while combing. In early Christian times, it was also believed that the threads were yarn from Maria's coat, which she had worn on her Ascension. Therefore, the characteristic cobwebs between grasses, twigs, gutters and shutters are also called "Marienfäden", "Marienseide" or "Marienhaar". The Indian summer is also referred to as "Mary's summer" and "yarn summer" for this reason. Another explanation is based solely on the name: before 1800 divided the seasons only in summer and winter. Spring and autumn were called "women's summer". Later, the spring got the addition "Young Woman's Summer" and consequently the autumn was called "Old Woman's Summer".

Spider threads as good luck charms

In any case, the cobwebs in the mythology always promise something good: If flying filaments caught in the hair of a young girl, this indicated a speedy wedding. Old people who caught the strings were sometimes considered lucky. Many peasant rules also deal with the weather phenomenon. This is a rule: "When many spiders crawl, they already smell the winter."

Reliable summer finale

Whether one believes in the mythological derivation of the weather period or rather adheres to meteorological conditions - with its clear air and the warm sunshine, the Indian summer conjures up a final color costume in our gardens. As the grand finale of nature to enjoy, one says with a wink: It is the only summer you can rely on.

How the Indian summer came to his name

Video Board: Indian Summer - Otto Wallgren.

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