Nikolai Lukash

What people wore

Peasant everyday winter and summer clothing

Peasant men wore linen shirts and trousers, while women wore long linen shirts and a checkered woolen skirt called a poneva. In winter, both wore sheepskin coats with the fur turned inward to stay warm.

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

Daily Sour Cabbage Soup

Shchi, a soup made from sour cabbage, onions, and beef or mutton, was a daily meal, often served with sour cream on non-fasting days.

Music

Social work-based gatherings for youth

In urban areas, young people gathered for work-related social events like kapustki, where they engaged in cabbage chopping followed by singing and dancing once the older generation left the room. These gatherings served as important occasions for unmarried youth to socialize and choose a marriage partner.

Daily life

Wooden homes and new urban layouts

In the late 18th century, ordinary urban houses were built of wood, which created a constant risk of devastating fires across entire neighborhoods. New urban houses began to feature central corridors instead of the traditional layout where rooms were arranged directly around a central stove.

What it cost

Daily wages for construction workers

In 1779 and 1780, unskilled construction laborers in Moscow earned 10 to 20 kopecks per day.