John, Duke of Östergötland

What people wore

Functional accessories on belts

Both men and women wore belts where they carried practical items, including leather pouches and knives, and women specifically kept farm keys on theirs.

Daily life

Turf roofs and tiny light sources

Houses were one-storey log buildings with turf roofs, where sheep and goats often grazed during the summer. Light entered through a single tiny window in the roof, measuring about half an ell square and covered with parchment or glass.

Work

A demanding working day

Following the 1571 Church Order, work days were long as holidays were halved, and laborers often relied on in-kind payments like food or grain.

Music

Instruments for song and dance

Common instruments used by people for singing and dancing included the flute, drum, fiddle, lute, and bagpipe.

At the table

Heavy Use of Spices in Cooking

People commonly seasoned their food with spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, which were also used to create warm, spiced beer known as bragott. This practice reflects a widespread culinary habit of heavy seasoning that lasted throughout the period.

Getting around

Impersonating royal servants to secure horses

Travelers who were not on royal business sometimes impersonated royal servants to secure horses, as ordinary peasants were often unwilling or unable to provide fresh teams when the roads were poor. If they could not find transport, they had to rely on the limited hospitality of local peasants or priests, often sleeping on floors near farm animals.

What it cost

Price of bread and meat in Ångermanland

In Ångermanland, a single loaf of bread was valued at 2 öre, while 1 liter of meat cost 24 öre.