2 Words
The 1920s
Hard Winter Ahead Folklore
“W”ords
Buggy Bugs
100

“I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please do this.”

What is marry me? One man proposed on the frozen waters under the northern lights. He told his fiancé that he was just going to set up equipment to take a picture, but when she turned around, he was on bended knee proposing to his future bride.

100

This is the nickname for this decade.

What is Roaring Twenties? This era was a time of sweeping social and political changes

100

More fog than usual in this month means it’s going to be a cold winter.

What is August? Folklore says the number of days of fog in August will equal the number of snowfalls during the winter. The prediction is right about 50 percent of the time.

100

This is to exchange vows.

What is wed? Fun fact: January, March, April, and November are the least popular and least expensive months to have a wedding

100

We love these beneficial ladies in their red and black polka-dotted attire.

What are ladybugs? A beneficial insect is something you want in the garden. It preys on destructive insects such as aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, and many more.

200

This major tourist attraction resides partially in Canada and partially in the U.S.

What is Niagara Falls? Niagara Falls is comprised of three falls: Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls.

200

This is the year of the stock market crash.

What is 1929? It was the original Black Tuesday, well before the one in 1987.

200

Folklore says that when these nuts from an oak tree fall in excess, a tough winter is indicated.

What are acorns? In fact, acorns have super harvests every few years.

200

 This is an employee’s hourly pay.

What is wage? Consultants call it a fee, and those who receive a set amount call it a salary.

200

Another name for lightning bug.

What is firefly? The firefly belongs to the beetle family

300

This is the name of the mountain where four presidents’ busts are carved in stone.

What is Mount Rushmore? George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln were easy choices, but there was a great debate over the fourth choice between Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson––Roosevelt won.

300

Two events in 1918 are attributed to giving us the freewheeling decade of the 1920s. Name one of them.

What is the end of World War I or the (Spanish flu) pandemic? The end of the previous, tumultuous decade is believed to be the cause of throwing all caution to the wind during the 1920s.

300

If these furry rodents are scurrying around your yard gathering nuts and acorns for the winter, look out! Winter’s going to be a doozy.

What are squirrels? The saying goes, “Squirrels gathering nuts in a flurry will cause snow to gather in a hurry.”

300

These are flowers that pop up without being planted. One example is the common violet.

What are wildflowers (or weeds)? You can also plant wildflower mixes. You’ll sometimes see wildflowers growing in meadows.

300

You know fall has arrived when you no longer hear the chirping of these insects at night

What are crickets? When the end of summer approaches, they start to chirp during the day because it’s too cold for them to be out at night. You can estimate the temperature by counting the chirps in 15 seconds and adding 37 to that number.

400

This city resides partially in Missouri and partially in Kansas

What is Kansas City? The city is divided by a two-lane highway that marks the border between the states.

400

This was the outcome of the temperance movement, which reached its peak in 1919, but it did little to dampen spirits (pun intended) in the 1920s

What is prohibition? The 18th amendment outlawed the manufacture, sale, and transport of alcoholic beverages. In 1933, the Twenty-first Amendment officially overturned it

400

Early migration of this large, beautiful butterfly can foretell a bad winter ahead.

What is monarch? It is true that if we have an early fall, monarchs migrate early because they cannot fly if it’s cloudy and the temperature is below 60 degrees.

400

This North American rodent, also called a groundhog, has its own tongue twister.

What is woodchuck? “How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?” It’s the largest member of the squirrel family.

400

 If you’re a serious gardener, you have probably experienced destruction from this iridescent beetle with the name of a Pacific Rim country.

What is Japanese beetle? They travel in packs, and they can destroy an entire garden in the blink of an eye.

500

This is the name of George Washington’s home.

What is Mount Vernon? The house that eventually became the mansion was built when George Washington was two years old.

500

During Prohibition, when people wanted to indulge in the free flow of alcohol, they flocked to saloons and nightclubs that went by this nickname.

What is speakeasy? The name speakeasy comes from the fact that people had to whisper a code word to gain admission. They operated like clubs.

500

Halos around one of these two heavenly bodies predict a tough winter

What is sun or moon? Moisture from ice crystals in cirrus clouds refract light, producing the halos seen around the sun and moon. This moisture does indicate rain or snow to follow, though not necessarily a bad winter season.

500

When we can’t think of what something is called, we often substitute this 15-letter slang word to take its place. It means “that thing.”

What is whatchamacallit? It’s a real word found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

500

Your DNA determines whether this common summertime nuisance will bite you.

What is mosquito? Scientists conducted an experiment with identical and fraternal twins. Mosquitoes reacted the same way toward identical twins but did not always act the same way toward fraternal twins because fraternal twins do not share the exact same DNA.