José María de Souza Botelho

What people wore

Fishermen kept gala outfits for generations

Fishermen wore simple linen breeches during work, but dressed in blue cloth suits for Sundays and kept their finest gala outfits for rare feast days. These precious gala sets were often passed down through generations, from parents to children and even grandchildren.

Daily life

Rural living and animal cohabitation

In rural homes, families sometimes lived in a single room where they slept and ate alongside their domestic animals.

Music

Social Gatherings and Entertainment

Private social gatherings often featured music, dancing, and card games, with attendees enjoying tea, chocolate, and sweets. Orchestras or individual musicians were hired, and guests sometimes participated alongside professionals; dancing was so central that admission to events with balls could cost twice as much as those without.

At the table

Cod as a staple for the poor

Dried and salted cod, known as bacalhau, was a staple protein for ordinary people because it was affordable and easy to store.

Getting around

Travel by stubborn pack mules

Travelers frequently used pack mules to move between towns; because these animals were often stubborn and guided by muleteers who stopped often at taverns, passengers faced long delays and the risk of accidents.