The Baker’s Dozen is not Lagniappe

Lagniappe is much more than the baker’s dozen

In order to understand a baker’s dozen, we need to go back to its origin:

It dates back to the 13th century during the reign of Henry III, a.k.a ‘Henry the Turd’.  During this time there was a perceived need for regulations controlling quality, pricing and checking weights to avoid fraudulent activity. The Assize (Statute) of Bread and Ale which instituted to regulate the price, weight and quality of the bread and beer manufactured and sold in towns, villages and hamlets.

Bakers who were found to have shortchanged customers could be liable for severe punishment such as losing a hand with an axe (ouch!). To guard against the punishment, the baker would give 13 for the price of 12, to be certain of not being known as a cheat.

The irony is that the statute deals with weight and not the quantity.  The merchants created the ‘baker’s dozen’ to change perception. They understood that one of the 13 could be lost, eaten, burnt, or ruined in some way, leaving the baker with the original legal dozen.

A baker’s dozen has become expected and therefore it is not a ‘marketing lagniappe’.  Now – - if you provided a 14th bagel as part of the dozen . . . that would be a purple goldfish.

HELP me catch another 865 purple goldfish for a great cause.  Click here to send me your example.