12. Where should one never wear a brown hat?
From Quiz Keep It Under Your Hat
Answer:
Friesland
The equivalent of "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," the phrase "Never wear a brown hat in Friesland," is said to have originated in Victorian times, when a traveller in that part of The Netherlands made the mistake of wearing a plain brown felt hat and was jeered at by the locals. It seems that in those days Frisians wore a knitted cap, over which they wore a high silk skull-cap, topped that with a metal turban, and finally they donned a large bonnet to complete this (rather bizarre, in my view) fashion statement. The saying must have originated with the traveller who was so rudely greeted, as a warning to anyone planning a trip to Friesland. I doubt if anyone would receive such a reception these days, since the Dutch are renowned for their hospitality and courtesy. I am not aware of any taboos regarding brown hats in Moldavia, Jutland or Russia.