Janusz Radziwiłł

What people wore

Everyday city jermiak coats

Ordinary city dwellers often wore a simple, unlined outer garment known as a jermiak, which was typically made of undyed grey or black kersey.

Daily life

Contrast in education by social class

Children of most peasants and burghers were illiterate, and primary schools were rare. In wealthy families, however, girls were often taught at home, and some magnate daughters achieved high literacy, with many learning Latin or German.

Work

Memorable custom of communal labor

"Talka" was a form of communal labor for urgent fieldwork where whole families, except young children, participated to complete tasks quickly. In exchange for the help, the beneficiary family hosted a party with food, drink, and dancing, though this custom eventually evolved into more compulsory, forced labor for estate owners.

Music

Student dance parties and popular dances

Students at Jesuit colleges frequently organized dance parties to brighten their daily lives, enjoying dances like the Chorea, Paduana, Galiarda, and local favorites such as Witany and Tarapata.

At the table

Urban middle-class diet in the Duchy

While middle-class city residents had more variety, they also relied heavily on cereals for bread and porridges like buckwheat, alongside peas, pickled cabbage, and turnips.

Getting around

Long travel times between towns

A journey from Vilnius to Kaunas, now covered in under 90 minutes, took an entire day by horse-drawn transport. Speeds for carts or walking were roughly 25 kilometers per day, while light horse travel reached about 55 kilometers per day.

What it cost

Cost of poultry in Warsaw markets

In 1619 Warsaw, a well-fed capon cost 10 grosze, while a fat goose reached up to 20 grosze.