Karl Albrecht

What people wore

Russian court dress and military-style fashion

By the end of the 1770s, a distinct Russian court dress emerged for noblewomen, characterized by a short train and long hanging sleeves. Empress Catherine II sometimes wore a female version of a military regimental uniform, tailored in the style of an amazon riding habit and trimmed with gold lace.

Getting around

River crossings and ferry delays

Travel was often interrupted by river crossings, where passengers and carriages relied on slow ferries, leading to significant delays and occasional hazards like the loss of cargo or baggage.

At the table

Popular Fermented Rye Drink

Kvas, a slightly alcoholic beverage fermented from rye bread, was consumed widely and also used as a liquid base for cooking soups and meats.

Music

Traditional communal dances and instruments

Russian peasants performed the khorovod, a communal round dance, to traditional songs without instrumental accompaniment in many northern regions. In the south, these dances were often accompanied by instruments like the zhaleika pipe, kugikly pan-flutes, or the rozhok horn.

Daily life

Peasant hygiene and living conditions

Peasant life included poor hygiene, as families often shared a single dirty cloth for two weeks to wipe their hands, faces, and kitchenware. In winter, young livestock were sometimes kept inside the peasant cabin, which, combined with smoky air, negatively affected living conditions and health.

What it cost

Food prices in St. Petersburg

In 1793, a pound of beef cost 9 kopecks in St. Petersburg, while a pair of chickens cost 80 kopecks.