Jadwiga Łuszkowska

At the table

Salamakha: a dual-purpose Cossack field meal

Cossacks on military campaigns prepared a sour dish called salamakha, which served as both food and drink, made by mixing boiled millet with water-diluted flour.

What people wore

Special occasion versus daily wear

Ordinary people kept finer linen shirts in their chests for special occasions like church services, while everyday clothes were often made from coarser materials like plain woven linen or wool.

Getting around

Bridge tolls during travel

Travelers were often charged for using bridges, with a toll of half a zloty per wagon.

What it cost

Price of a loaf of bread

In the early 17th century, a loaf of fine-ground rye bread cost 1 Polish grosz.

Music

Origins of the Hopak dance

The Hopak developed as an improvisational male dance among Zaporozhian Cossacks in the early 17th century, often reenacting battles with weapons like swords. It was a boisterous social dance performed during victory celebrations rather than during strict military training.

Daily life

Archaic smoke-filled stoves in Polissia

In the early 17th century, many homes in the Polissia region utilized archaic stoves where smoke exited directly into the room through special roof openings.