John II of Aragon

What people wore

The Colorful Woolen Tunic Called Saya

Ordinary people wore a tunic called a saya, which was often made of wool and dyed in various colors like red, purple, ocher, blue, green, white, or black. It was typically worn by peasants and artisans, sometimes featuring an open neck known as an amigaut.

Daily life

Household as the center of life

The household served as the primary center for education, work, and life, with tasks like laundry and water fetching falling to women and domestic servants.

Work

Seasonal and domestic labor rhythms

Daily life followed seasonal tasks like the pig slaughter in November, a scene frequently depicted in medieval carvings and paintings. Household chores often centered around the hearth, where servants and family members performed tasks like drying laundry.

Music

Social customs of the youth groups

Young men formed social groups called Los Mozos, where joining on the feast of Saint Agatha cost one real. Members shared communal items like guitars, wine skins, and playing cards for their social gatherings.

At the table

Wine as a daily essential drink

Wine was the essential daily drink, considered vital for health and often mixed with water because pure water was frequently unsafe to consume. It was consumed by all social classes, and many people carried their own measuring tools to ensure the wine was diluted correctly.

Getting around

Traveling primarily on foot

Ordinary people primarily traveled on foot, covering a maximum distance of 40 to 50 kilometers in a single day.

What it cost

Meat Consumption and Hunting Practices

Lamb was the most consumed meat, and hunting was crucial to supplement low calorie diets rather than just being a noble sport.