Christian VII of Denmark

At the table

Standard colonial dietary rations

In the Danish-Norwegian colonies, daily rations consisted of porridge, peas, hardtack, rye bread, smoked pork, brandy, and beer.

What people wore

Neck scarf fashion for women

By the 1730s, a square neck scarf folded into a triangle became common, with ends tucked into the bodice or jacket front.

Getting around

Slow travel and exhausted horses

Traveling by carriage was slow due to poor road conditions, and horses used for relays were often exhausted animals taken directly from farm work. Travelers frequently had to endure long journeys, such as the 6 to 7 days it took the mail coach to travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg.

What it cost

Grain prices in Berlin

In 1740, a bushel of rye in Berlin cost 1 thaler and 21 groschen due to a bad harvest, though prices typically stabilized between 19 and 20 groschen until the Seven Years' War. At the time, one thaler was equal to 24 groschen.

Music

Common Instruments for Village Dancing

Village dances commonly featured the violin as the main instrument, alongside traditional drone instruments like the hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, and drums.

Daily life

Shared living conditions in Nyboder

In 18th-century Copenhagen, Nyboder apartments often lacked private kitchens, forcing families to share a hallway-like cooking space with neighbors. People also relied on shared outdoor toilets consisting of sheds over pits that required periodic emptying by night men.