Avalon’s annual Seafood Fest to cele-brate Indian Summer takes place on Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, this, its 20th year.
But what do you really know about In-dian Summer?
You most likely know that it’s a short period of especially hospitable weather. If it’s any sooner, it’s simply called summer, and if it’s later, well, it’s just a warm day in November.
Indian Summer traditionally has to co-incide with the colorful fall foliage, al-though there is no hard and fast rule of its beginning or end. It’s not therefore a season of its own, but merely a part — albeit the nicest part — of autumn.
The fine weather of Indian Summer usually follows autumn’s first hint of chilled air. The days get noticeably warmer, but nights are still chilly, yet comfortable.
Throughout the period, the sun is dim and soft. The sky is brightly blue, with a gentle haze near the horizon. Thus the air appears smoky and still, with little or no wind.
The moon of Indian Summer is faintly yellow or orange. Indian Summer lasts for as long as two weeks, before winter makes its approach known.
Scientifically, the cause of Indian Summer is warm, tropical air, carried north over the country. This air mass is still, and consequently the weather is clear and mild.
The American Indians loved this time of year. They believed the pleasant weather came from Cautantowwit, the god of the southwest.
The origin of the name is uncertain. Some say it was bestowed by the early European settlers who had been told by the Indigenous people that such a pe-riod was coming after summer’s heat and autumn’s initial blast of cold.
Others say the settlers called it Indian Summer because the sudden good weather made it easier for any warlike indigenous tribes to attack the settlers.
Settlers also believed that the haze of the Indian Summer sky came from fires the Indians had set on the prairies.
This continent is not alone in its boon of Indian Summer, although the name changes according to locale.
In Europe it’s called Old Wives’ sum-mer, or Second Summer. The British know it as either All Hallow Summer, or St. Martin’s summer.
In Poland, they seem to be a little more practical. The period can last a month in Poland, and they simply call it, God’s Gift to Poland.
In Avalon, it’s called Indian Summer Seafood Festival. And it’s delicious.
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