In another thread we saw this
http://i636.photobuc...t/ATT001213.jpg
The FR.term “Ete Indien” is well known phrase in Northeast US.”Indian Summer“ when in October and November, after much ice and frost we may have a warm day. I Have never used that phrase again since I learned the true demeaning meaning of it. Obviously Native Americans (aka Indians) don’t like the phrase, just like they don’t like another phrase “Indian Giver”. See below.
My trees are already dressing in golden/tsirani/ծիրանի Autumn Foliage. Soon one of the least favorite chore of raking leaves will be upon us.
When people from all over, specially those from southern states where there virtually there are no seasons of the year, will be flocking to view the golden (voski/tsirani) and red leaves, one of natures most spectacular shows. When the Burning Bush shrub and the Sumac turn crimson red.
http://www.maddoxgar...urning bush.jpg
http://www.concordma...ct01/sumac.jpeg
Soon here in the North East, one of the most anticipated touristic season of Autumn Foliage will begin.
http://www.scenicref..._Foliage_IW.jpg
http://en.wikipedia....ndianSummer.jpg
A typical day within a period of "Indian Summer"
It is somewhat reminiscent of another pejorative phrase “Indian Giver”, where it is inferred that Native Americans “gives with one hand and take with the other”. .Indian summer is an expression given to a period of sunny, warm weather in autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, typically in late October or early November, after the leaves have turned following an onset of frost but before the first snowfall
----Indian giver is an English expression used in North America and Australia, used to describe a person who gives a gift (literal or figurative) and later wants it back, or something equivalent in return.
The term "Indian gift" was first noted in 1765 by Thomas Hutchinson,[1] and "Indian giver" was first cited in John Russell Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms (1860)[2] as "Indian giver. When an Indian gives any thing, he expects to receive an equivalent, or to have his gift returned."
The phrase can be offensive,[3][4] particularly to Native Americans.[5]
BTW. Since we are talking about falling leaves , anyone know this by O’Henry? “The Last Leaf”.
When Sue, sick with pneumonia was convinced that she would “fall” when the last ivy leaf falls. Johnsy spends all night in freezing cold to paint a leaf on the wall. (S)he** freezes to death with brush in hand while sue lives.
All of O’Henry’s short stories end with a surprise twist.
http://www.online-li...com/donne/1303/
**
Seems like Johnsy was a woman as well. Again. It is Johnsy who is dying, not Sue and the painter who freezes and dies of pneumonia is Mr. Behrman
Edited by Arpa, 05 September 2010 - 10:25 AM.
