Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki

At the table

Varied diets of ordinary families

Ordinary households in the Polissya and Volhynia regions enjoyed a varied diet that included pork, salted meat, sausages, poultry, mutton, dairy products like cheese and butter, and bread made from wheat or rye. Documented supplies in peasant homes frequently featured peas, various cereals, garlic, and onions.

What people wore

Hair styling and head coverings

Girls accessorized their hair by braiding silk or wool ribbons into their hair, while married women typically covered their heads with a specialized cap called an ochipok. For festive events, girls might decorate their braids with live or artificial flowers and colorful ribbons.

Getting around

Traveling by Foot, Horse, and Wagon

In the 17th century, people traveled on foot, by horseback, or in various types of horse- or ox-drawn wagons such as carriages (kareta) or carts (mazha). There were no mechanized means of transport, and river travel was conducted by boat.

What it cost

Cost of livestock

In the first half of the 17th century, a goose cost 4 to 5 groszy, while a good cow was valued at 10 zlotys (300 groszy).

Music

Vertep Christmas Play Celebrations

The Vertep, a popular puppet-based Christmas play, featured joyful celebrations where performers sang, played the bandura, and danced the Vertepnyj Kozachok.

Daily life

Water storage and central cooking ovens

Peasants often stored cold well water in hollowed-out containers sealed with cobs, which acted as a natural, portable refrigerator for long days of field work. Inside the home, this water was kept in large clay pots or wooden vessels, and meals were typically cooked in a central oven that also served as a heat source.