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Altweibersommer is the name given to a period of fine weather in autumn. However, the name is not derived from women, but from an old German word.
The name Altweibersommer has an old German origin
Altweibersommer refers to the last sunny and warm days in September.
- In the early 19th century, there were only two seasons: Summer and Winter. What we know today as spring and autumn were called female summer. Warm days in spring were called Jungweibersommer, in autumn they were called Altweibersommer.
- The expression “Weiber” does not stand for women, but is a derivation of the Old German word “weiben”, which means to tie cobwebs. Today, the expression can be equated with “weaving”.
- If you go for a walk in Indian summer, you will often notice spider threads floating through the air. These come from young canopy spiders that use them to get around.
- It is popularly said that the spider webs, which shine silvery in the sun, resemble the hair of old women or spinning threads of spun yarn that used to be created on spinning wheels.
