Filipa de Bragança

Music

Concertinas became central to rural life

The concertina, a small diatonic button accordion, became a central instrument for rural dances and festivals in northern Portugal during the early 20th century.

Daily life

Poor rural housing conditions

Rural homes were often small, dark, cold structures with few rooms, lacking electricity, running water, and sewage systems. Cooking was commonly done over an open fire or three stones on the floor, as chimneys were frequently absent.

What it cost

The molhadura contract tradition

In rural areas, workers were sometimes hired through a traditional practice called the molhadura, where a capataz paid for a glass of brandy to seal a weekly employment contract. This custom was compared to a human meat auction due to the lack of regulation.

What people wore

Practical adjustments to women's clothing

For better mobility during work, country women often pulled their wide skirts up and fastened them, creating a large, functional circle around their hips. In some regions, they also wore specialized wool sleeves or leg warmers called canos during cold winter months.

Getting around

Oporto to Póvoa railway travel costs

In 1898, an 18-mile steam-powered rail journey from Oporto to Póvoa de Varzim took 90 minutes and cost 540 réis for a first-class ticket.

At the table

Shared Dining Practices

In rural areas, large families frequently ate their daily meals together from a single massive red clay plate placed on the table.