"BAKER'S DOZEN" - Sometimes we refer to '13' as being a "Baker's Dozen". In Medieval times, bakers would often attempt to save materials and ingredients by cheating the consumer. Instead of wrapping the purchased dozen, bakers would often only sell 10 or less of an item. Once the customer realized the indescretion, it was too late to prove the baker had cheated them. The problem became so bad that eventually laws were passed with strict punishments being enforced on bakers who cheated their customers. The penalties were so harsh that instead of the standard '12' in a dozen, bakers began inserting a 13th loaf or cake to ensure they were within the law.

'Kick the cat'

Fry the toad

shake yer skirts

all were used to fend off the Black Plague, aka cholera.

Besides the fampous crossed fingers to do the Cross, and stop the evil eye...

Also,

Blessings,

moi

Thanks, Lan! This is going to be my favorite thread, I believe.

Quick cholera facts: Cholera was originally endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with the Ganges River likely serving as a contamination reservoir. The disease spread by trade routes (land and sea) to Russia, then to Western Europe, and from Europe to North America. Cholera is now no longer considered a pressing health threat in Europe and North America due to filtering and chlorination of water supplies.

1816-1826 - First Cholera pandemic

Last outbreak: 2007 - The U.N. reported recently of a Cholera outbreak in Iraq.

Where would I be if you don't share a secret?

Pssst,

agape, and Blessings,

moi

One for us in time for Valentine's Day:

"WEAR YOUR HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE" - This phrase is commonly used to express one who is openly showing love for someone, or toward one whom is trying to impress a person of the opposite gender. Records indicate that it in fact originated during 1255 when knights would wear the symbol of their family crest or heraldry on their sleeves when they went into battle. The symbol was an insignia of the love and devotion that encouraged the knight to defend his family's honor. Later, in 1303 A.D. it became popular for knights to wear the crest in tournaments and symbols were eventually adapted to denote a lover, accomplishment or rank.

Love to use this one:

"DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER" - A phrase used commonly when a person of lower station must deliver bad news to a boss or authority figure. It first originated in the 13th Century when Diplomatic Messengers were dispatched to rival houses and kingdoms to deliver unfavorable news. Often the recipient of the bad news would express his or her rage by slaying or imprisoning the Messenger. Finally, laws were enacted to protect Messengers from such events.

Another one I use:

"GIVE SOMEONE THE COLD SHOULDER" - In The Middle Ages, lords and nobles were often faced with the common problem of getting rid of unwanted or obnoxious guests at feasts and gatherings. There is no evidence of when this practice actually started, but an unwanted guest was served a cold shoulder of meat; the toughest and most undesireable portion of a roast. Receiving this token symbol often resulted in giving the guest enough of a hint that he or she over-stayed their welcome.