seeallsides -“Can’t give you sources but what i was raised with was-the original challah on the Shulchan was braided, that is why we do it.”
Wow, that’s a new one. Where did you pick this one up -your parents, school? I think you got mixed up.
There were 12 Challos in the Mishkan, so we also want 12 on our Shabbos table. Six braids in each Challah is 12 altogether.