In France, as well as in the rest of the world, nowadays a lot of products (eggs, beer, yogurt) are sold sometimes by the dozen. The reason is simple.
During the Middle Ages, the number twelve was the basis of bookkeeping for vendors. Twelve is the number of knuckles on the four fingers of the hand that could be used for counting without using the thumb.
It was practical in case the other hand was already holding something. Also, the figure twelve is easily divisible.
Currently, vendors generally do not use their fingers to count what they are selling anymore.
However, the tradition of a dozen has survived.
#tradition #france #dozen
