When I was thinking about Friday the 13th and superstitions a couple of days ago, it occurred to me that the number 13 crops up in at least one instance where it\u2019s not mentioned \u2014 a Baker\u2019s Dozen. Everyone knows a \u201cBaker\u2019s Dozen\u201d is a group of 13. The origin of the term is disputed, but most agree that the practice among bakers of giving 13 items to the dozen was a safeguard against penalties for short weights and measures.<\/p>\n
It seems that throughout history many societies have had extremely strict laws concerning bakers\u2019s wares, due to the fact that it is fairly easy for bakers to cheat patrons and sell them less than what they think they are getting \u2014 a serious offense because bread was and is a primary food source for many people.<\/p>\n
The Assize of Bread and Ale (1266) was the first law in British history that regulated the production and sale of food. So the thinking is that to avoid the possibility of a penalty, bakers began to include a 13th loaf of bread with every dozen sold. This extra loaf made up for any possibility that the other 12 loaves might be light. Over time, that group of 13 loaves of bread became known as a baker\u2019s dozen.<\/p>\n
Actually, I don\u2019t buy that \u2014 first off, the practice of the extra loaf originated several centuries before the phrase. Another reason is that it appears that only when the bakers sold twelve loaves, they added another identical loaf to make thirteen. Were they only concerned when selling a dozen loaves? They should have had the same concern when selling 9 loaves \u2014 but there is no baker\u2019s nine. And the Assize regulated weight \u2014 not number.<\/p>\n
Anyhow, a couple of\u00a0 lesser accepted theories are: that the baker makes 13 \u2014 12 for the customer and one for himself. That way if the batch comes out bad, he can easily find out and pitch it before it gets to the customer. Another thought is the extra item was added by the baker so the household slave\/servant would be able to consume one of whatever was being purchased, while walking home with a bag full of food for their master\/employer.<\/p>\n
What do I think? That the phrase was made up because superstition prevents the number being mentioned by name\u2026 probably the extra loaf was baked as a special bribe for the devil not to spoil the batch of loaves.
\nBut no matter \u2014 a baker\u2019s dozen it is \u2014 when uttering \u201cthat number\u201d makes you uncomfortable.
\n\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n
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When I was thinking about Friday the 13th and superstitions a couple of days ago, it occurred to me that the number 13 crops up in at least one instance where it\u2019s not mentioned \u2014 a Baker\u2019s Dozen. Everyone knows … Continue reading