Elisabeth Sabina of Sweden

What people wore

Sheepskin skirts for servants

In 1559, servant girls in Ångermanland received skirts made of sheepskin, with each garment requiring 12 skins to produce.

Daily life

Home-based learning and labor socialization

Formal schooling was not yet a dominant part of children's lives, as religious instruction took place within the home. Children were primarily socialized through labor, working as apprentices, farm laborers, or helping their families.

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

Slow travel and meal costs

Travel could be very slow, with one group taking five hours to cover just two miles because of deep snow. Guests at the parish-appointed inns paid for their meals with two 'Rondstuckh', which were worth about four Kreuzer.

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.