Summer

The second or autumnal summer, said to last thirty days, begins about the time that the sun enters Scorpio (October 23rd). It is variously called—

(1) St. Martin’s summer (Lʹété de St. Martin). St. Martin’s Day is the 11th November.

“Expect St. Martin’s summer, halcyon days.”

Shakespeare: 1 Henry VI., i. 2.

(2) All Saintsʹ summer (All Saintsʹ is the 1st November), or All Hallowen summer.

“Then followed that beautiful season,

Called by the pious Arcadian peasants the summer of All Saints.”

Longfellow: Evangeline.

“Farewell. All Hallowen summer.”—Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV., i. 2.

(3) St. Luke’s little summer (St. Luke’s day is 18th October).

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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