Stanisław Leszczyński

What people wore

Cost of Peasant Clothing

In the 17th century, a complete set of Ukrainian peasant clothing—including a shirt, wide trousers, a coat, and a sheepskin jacket—was valued at approximately 26.5 zlotys. Women's clothing, often more elaborate, was typically valued at nearly double that amount, around 52 zlotys.

Daily life

Sleeping and eating habits

Until the end of the 18th century, beds were rare in peasant households, with most people sleeping on long benches or straw spread directly on the floor. While forks were known, they did not come into general use until the 18th century, so most people ate with their fingers and wooden spoons.

Work

Labor Obligations and Panshchyna Service

Peasants often owed labor services known as panshchyna, which could require working on the lord's land multiple days a week, sometimes including the use of their own horses or oxen.

Music

Professional guilds and instruments

Professional musicians organized into city guilds, which were legally supported by decrees to provide music for celebrations, ceremonies, and military events. Musicians played instruments like the violin, dulcimer, bagpipe, and drum at festive gatherings.

At the table

Cossack dietary staples and habits

Cossack soldiers typically ate simple, communal meals like salamakha, a liquid dish made from boiled millet and flour water, often served from small wooden troughs using wooden spoons. When possible, they supplemented their diet with pork scraps, boiled fish, and various cereals like teterya cooked with milk or fat.

Getting around

Travel Speed and Duration

Land travel was slow, with carriages and carts typically covering 25–30 kilometers per day, though some journeys might be faster or slower depending on road conditions. A journey of approximately 70 versts (about 75 kilometers) could take a full day and night.

What it cost

Medical treatment cost versus cutlery price

A medical enema in the 17th century cost 15 sous, which was the same price as a gross of small whistle knives.