Ulrika Eleonora Ribbing

What people wore

Smoothing Head-Cloths with Glass

Women smoothed their festive white linen head-cloths by rubbing the fabric with a glass rod to achieve a shiny, professional finish.

Getting around

Travel via Frozen Landscapes

Winter was often the best time for long journeys, as travelers could move easily over frozen lakes, rivers, and marshes that were impassable in summer. In many northern regions, people relied on these ice roads for essential transport.

At the table

Salted food and diluted beer consumption

Food was often heavily salted for preservation, particularly meat and fish, which provided essential protein alongside dairy. People commonly drank large quantities of beer, often diluted with water, as a standard daily beverage.

Music

Paid musicians at grand weddings

For the grand peasant weddings that lasted three days or more, musicians were hired in advance and could earn significant payment for their services. These weddings were status symbols, and only skilled, experienced musicians were considered for the job.

Daily life

Self-sufficient rural households without schools

Schools did not exist in the countryside, and households were responsible for producing everything needed for daily life, including tools and clothing. Medical care was also absent in rural areas, leading families to rely on traditional home remedies found in household books.

What it cost

Housemaid's monthly wage in 1725

In 1725, a housemaid earned 40 daler kopparmynt per month.