Crossword puzzle clue "mnemonic that figures into each theme entry's color shift from top to bottom"

Mnemonic that figures into each theme entry's "color shift" (from top to bottom)

Period that ends Nov. 3rd, requiring a shift, and letters that shift in this puzzle's theme entries

Like each answer in this puzzle - also each word in each clue - in length

Theme answer count, amount of letters in each, word hidden in each, and, when repeated twice, today's date

There's one at the beginning of each theme entry

Word that can follow the last word in each theme entry

Word each theme entry ends with a synonym for

Today, I tried to put a self-effacing three-letter acronym inside each theme entry. Turns out it works in any order except the one I want. ___