The beginning of autumn, when the weather is still warm, has a specific name in many cultures around the world. In America, this period is called “Indian Summer,” in the Netherlands — “after-summer,” and in Germany — “spiderweb summer.” But among all Slavic peoples, it’s known as “Babye Leto” (literally, “women’s summer”). Where does this expression come from? The most popular version is connected to “women’s” work: in ancient times, early autumn marked the end of the fieldwork season, and peasant women exclusively worked on soaking flax and weaving fabric. This task was lighter than fieldwork, serving as a kind of respite between the hard months of summer and winter. Typically, “Babye Leto” refers to the first two weeks of September, when there are no frosts yet, and the weather is relatively warm. However, depending on the region, it can last longer — even into October. In Russia, September 14 was especially significant, known as Simeon’s Day, the day of Simeon Stylites, a hermit. On this day, people rested from work, held gatherings, and even arranged marriages. Interestingly, “Babye Leto” was sometimes called “Marfa’s Summer,” after Simeon’s mother.