Do's & Don'ts
These two words are exchanged at the altar during a wedding ceremony.
What is “I do”? While many couple write their own vows, they still say their “I do’s.”
Tie-dye fashions emerged on the scene in this decade.
What is the 1960s? At the time, it was a counterculture statement. It has reemerged as part of 21st-century “anything goes” fashion and crossed into home furnishings as well, sans the counterculture statement.
Clocks go this way at the end of daylight saving time in November, granting a precious extra hour of sleep.
What is back? In the United States and Canada, we turn our clocks back an hour when we change from daylight saving time to standard time on November 2.
It’s not only a bog fruit associated with the holidays but also a shade of red.
What is cranberry? It comes from the German word kraneberrie, which means “crane berry.” It earned this name because the flower of the cranberry plant looks like a crane’s head and neck.
A four-letter word beginning with N that describes an alcove or small, recessed section of a room, usually devoted to one activity
What is nook? Examples include a breakfast nook in the kitchen or a corner of a living room.
This 1937 song by the Andrews Sisters warns the listener: Don’t do this with “anyone else but me.”
What is “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.”
These were the big and bulky predecessor to women’s slips.
What are petticoats? Also called crinolines, petticoats added bulk as well as modesty to skirts and dresses in the 19th century.
This federal holiday honoring the military is held in November.
What is Veterans Day? It is observed every November 11. The day honors all military members who have served honorably, living or deceased.
This shade of tan is named for an animal that has a hump for storing fat and that you can ride at the Giza Pyramids in Egypt.
What is camel? The name for this hue of tan comes from the color of camel hair.
A burglar, robber, extortionist, etc.
What is crook? Crook is not a legal term; rather, it is a generic name we give to perpetrators who commit a crime.
Neither underdress nor overdress, but it’s important to do this.
What is dress for the occasion? When you’re underdressed or overdressed, you can feel conspicuous, and that ruins the joy of the occasion.
Umbrellas used by women in the sun were called this.
What are parasols? Around 4,000 years ago, ancient Egypt, Assyria, and China brought us the parasol as we know it. They were made of non-waterproof material and not only shielded women from the sun but also were decorative in nature.
These U.S. national political “contests” are held in November.
What are (federal) elections? State and local elections are sometimes held in conjunction with federal elections, but there are no federal statutes or constitutional requirements that mandate them to be held at the same time.
Chartreuse is a hue of this secondary color.
What is green? It derives its name from the herbal liqueur Chartreuse, first created by the Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps.
One who is not an accountant but tracks inflows and outflows
What is bookkeeper? The bookkeeper records transactions, though there can be some overlap with the accountant’s work. The accountant also analyzes data and performs audits, and some are tax preparers. Bookkeepers and bookkeeping are the only two English words with three sets of double letters.
Men wear this color and type of jacket at white-tie affairs.
What is black (evening) tailcoat? The dress code for a white-tie event is strict. For example, the shirt must be wing-collared, and a white vest coat is required.
You couldn’t walk into a soda shop in the 1950s without seeing these trendy circle skirts on girls and young women.
What are poodle skirts? The skirts were usually adorned with appliquéd poodles, but sometimes they featured other themes.
November is known as this type of meteorological month
What is transitional? It’s a transition between fall and winter. In many areas of the United States, October brings many warm days. With November’s arrival, you can count on cold snaps. December is traditionally cold in most of the country.
A shade of this color is associated with Tiffany & Co.
What is blue? Tiffany has used the distinctive hue, also known as robin egg blue, since 1845. Tiffany Blue received a trademark in 1998, and it is now Pantone standard color “1837 Blue,” in commemoration of the year Tiffany was founded. Pantone colors are used by designers around the globe to ensure standardization and accuracy.
The double-S word astronauts experience in space due to microgravity
What is weightlessness? Extended periods of weightlessness cause many physiological changes. In June 2024, two astronauts who were originally scheduled for an eight-day trip were stranded on the space station for more than eight months. After that length of time, they could have lost up to 20 percent of lean muscle mass and one to two percent of bone density.
This epic double “do” is from JFK’s inaugural address.
What is [My fellow Americans,] “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”? An equally poignant passage from the same speech that is rarely quoted is “My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
This straw hat for men was introduced in the 1920s and made in Ecuador.
What is Panama hat? The hat was made in bulk in Ecuador and sent to a port in Panama. There, they were loaded on ships for distribution to Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
November is derived from the Latin novem, which is this number.
What is nine? November is now the 11th month of the year, but it wasn’t always. Under the original Roman calendar, there was no January or February, which made November the ninth month.
This shade of pink is also the name of a plant with exquisite, delicate petals.
What is fuchsia? It’s a very bright purplish-pink color used in home furnishings as well as in fashion. It dates to the 16th century, when the fuchsia plant was discovered in Central America.
Refers to the entire head of hair, usually in a positive manner
What are tresses? The plural is used to describe a head of hair, while the singular tress is used to describe a lock of hair.