Q102945698

What people wore

Inherited silk festive clothing of wealthy families

Merchant and wealthy peasant women cherished festive clothing made from thick silk fabrics like satin and brocade, which were passed down through generations. These colorful, expensive garments were often adorned with large, bright floral patterns that reflected a blend of European trends and traditional folk art.

Getting around

The podorozhnaya travel permit system

Travelers could obtain a podorozhnaya, a travel permit that authorized the use of state-provided post horses and required payment of a fee for every verst traveled.

At the table

Sour cabbage soup was daily fare

Shchi, a soup made from sour cabbage or sauerkraut, was the most common daily meal, often enriched with hemp oil in fasting periods or sour cream on regular days. In the absence of meat, this soup served as the main course, frequently accompanied by porridge.

Music

Unique Eighteenth-Century Russian Horn Orchestras

In the mid-eighteenth century, the unique horn orchestra became a feature of Russian culture, consisting of 50 to 91 musicians playing brass horns that could each produce only one specific note.

Daily life

Small, dim living spaces in wooden huts

The main living area of a typical wooden izba was quite small, often providing only 2 to 3 square meters per person. Rooms were frequently lit by splinter torches, and windows were often unglazed, covered instead with bull's bladder.

What it cost

Costs of food and footwear

In Moscow around 1750, a pound of beef cost 12 kopecks, while a pair of boots generally cost between 25 and 50 kopecks. Prices for staples like flour and meat increased significantly during the second half of the century as the cost of living rose.