Princess Ileana of Romania

Music

The buhai ox-bellow instrument

A unique instrument called the buhai was used during New Year celebrations, created from a wooden tub covered with a perforated hide that a performer pulled with wet hands to mimic an ox's bellow.

Daily life

Early indoor water and baths

In 1901, Bucharest had only 5,000 water subscribers for a population of 300,000, and households were taxed based on the number of rooms rather than actual water usage. Early indoor bathrooms were considered such novelties that friends would visit specifically to admire them.

What it cost

Cost of a pair of boots

At the beginning of the 20th century, a pair of custom-made boots cost 10 to 11 lei, and by 1913, the price of a pair of men's boots rose to 15 lei.

What people wore

Traditional slum fashion in Bucharest

Men in old Bucharest slums wore sheepskin fur hats all year, trousers tucked into high-heeled boots with rubber elastic, and wrapped themselves five times with red or green wool belts.

Getting around

Bucharest–Constanța: 4h 34m express

For an express train, the Bucharest–Constanța route (228 km) was done in 4 hours and 34 minutes.

At the table

Mămăligă was the essential daily food

Corn-based mămăligă was the foundation of the peasant diet, often consumed daily and sometimes multiple times a day.