A ‘baker’s dozen’ is getting thirteen items for the price of twelve. I’ve always had two theories about where this came from:
- Bakers tend to make more cookie dough than they really need
- Some famous baker in the past had an extra finger
- All bakers can’t count
Turns out, the real story is much more terrible and bloody. In the past, the weight of a loaf of bread was pretty serious biscuits…er… business. There were hefty fines and penalties decreed for any baker caught selling a light loaf. In ancient Egypt, a baker’s ear would be nailed to his door. In ancient Babylon, stealing a loaf of bread would get your hands cut off. The message was clear; don’t be messin’ around with my pumpernickel, dawg!
Moving forward a couple millenia, in the 13th century England, specific laws were in place about the weight of bread. Coming up short on the scales could result in fines or some time in the pillory, but alas nothing too gruesome. (they saved that for the Crusades) In those days accuracy of anything was rough and as a result bakers began to play it safe and offer a free 13th loaf, to ensure they were over the legal limits.
Another reasonable account for the modern practice of the 13th loaf was in the process of re-selling. The wholesale baker offered the retail merchant an extra free loaf that would act as the ‘profit’. I suppose they could sell the bread at the lowest possible price and at the end of the day come out ahead thanks to the extra loaf. With a whopping 7.7% profit margin, it’s easy to understand why this practice didn’t stick around.
The important thing is that in the end, the baker keeps his ear, and I get an extra cookie. Good deal.
