Bath in May and October

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Pioneer men and women took bathes twice a year, May and
October. Women kept their hair covered while men shaved
their heads because of lice and bugs and wore wigs.
Wealthy men could afford good wigs made of  wool.

They couldn't wash the wig , so to clean them they would
carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell,
and bake it for 30 minuties.

The heat would make them big and fluffy, hence the
term "big wig."

Today, we use the term "here comes the Big Wig" because
some one appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.

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