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Tag Archives: America

Round Robin

Why is a tournament where each team plays the other in turn called a round robin? The answer involves ribbons, religious refugees, and ringleaders.

Posted byAspen MooreMay 30, 2022Posted inetymology, sportsTags:America, English, etymology, France, round robinLeave a comment on Round Robin

Where Does Pie Come From?

Where does pie come from, and why do we eat it on Thanksgiving? The answer involves a certain bird known for collecting miscellaneous objects, Queen Elizabeth I, and elaborate dinnertime entertainment.

Posted byAspen MooreNovember 22, 2021November 22, 2021Posted inegypt, food, holidays, Rome and Greece, UncategorizedTags:America, dessert, England, English, holidays, pie, thanksgivingLeave a comment on Where Does Pie Come From?

Where Did S’mores Come From?

Where did s’mores come from? The answer involves the Girl Scouts, a Wikipedia hoax, and the Father of American Vegetarianism.

Posted byAspen MooreSeptember 6, 2021September 6, 2021Posted inUncategorizedTags:America, dessert, food, girl scouts, s'moresLeave a comment on Where Did S’mores Come From?

Spelling Bee

Why do good spellers compete in a spelling “bee”? The answer involves all the favorite subjects of a spelling bee winner—etymology, philology, and, of course, spelling.

Posted byAspen MooreJuly 20, 2021Posted inetymologyTags:America, etymology, spelling, spelling bee1 Comment on Spelling Bee

Left, Right, Center

Why are conservatives referred to as the “right” and liberals referred to as the “left” in politics? The answer involves the French Revolution, the quick spread of information through newspapers, and the tense interlude between the two World Wars.

Posted byAspen MooreApril 6, 2021Posted inUncategorizedTags:America, etymology, politicsLeave a comment on Left, Right, Center

The First Thanksgiving?

Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving? The answer may not be what you think—it’s both more complicated than the “pilgrims and Indians” narrative many of us learned in school and less sinister than many “myth-busting” articles have recently claimed.

Posted byAspen MooreNovember 25, 2020Posted inUncategorizedTags:America, holidays, thanksgiving1 Comment on The First Thanksgiving?
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