Tsarevich Alexei Alexeyevich of Russia

What people wore

Essential Daily Clothing and Belts

Ordinary people wore linen shirts as a base layer, with men pairing them with knee-length trousers and women wearing long shirts often decorated for festivals. A belt was essential, as appearing in public without one was considered highly improper.

Daily life

Home and monastery-based education

Children were typically educated at home, focusing on reading, writing, and counting, with some instruction provided by monasteries. Wealthier families also began to introduce foreign languages like Latin and Polish in the 17th century.

Work

High infant mortality rates

A harsh reality for many families was that approximately one-third of children did not survive past their first birthday due to constant physical labor and difficult living conditions.

Music

Solitary dancing and embroidered handkerchiefs

When dancing, Russians traditionally did not hold hands; instead, individuals danced alone, often waving intricately embroidered handkerchiefs while moving their arms, shoulders, and hips.

At the table

Daily diet of cabbage, porridge, and bread

Ordinary families relied heavily on cabbage soup (shchi), porridge, and black rye bread, often supplemented by seasonal mushrooms, berries, and vegetables like turnips or cucumbers. Meat was consumed less frequently due to numerous religious fasts, and the pungent aroma of garlic and onion was characteristic of their daily meals.

Getting around

Challenges of 17th-century Russian travel

Travel was slow, often taking weeks, and due to a lack of inns, travelers had to carry their own food, axes, and fire-making supplies to camp outdoors. Wealthy travelers often traveled by post-horses, changing them at stations, though they frequently faced shortages of horses or corrupt officials demanding bribes.

What it cost

Cost of footwear

In the late 17th century, a pair of fine morocco leather boots cost 1 ruble, while simpler leather shoes were significantly cheaper.