Marie Louise of Hesse-Kassel

At the table

Porridge was the primary warm meal

Porridge made from oats or millet was the most important warm meal, often prepared in large batches and reheated, which gave it a tough, semi-solid consistency. People typically ate directly from a common bowl at the center of the table using their hands or a wooden spoon.

What people wore

Women's mourning caps in Scheeßel

A woman in the Scheeßel parish typically owned about 11 different caps, five of which were used exclusively for mourning periods.

Getting around

Comfort and schedule discipline

Travelers could pay extra for a seat in the more comfortable cabin (roef) of a barge, and if the cheaper hold was full, they might be upgraded for the same price. Sandglasses were sometimes used in boats and at stops to ensure skippers kept to their schedules and did not pause too long.

What it cost

Bread as a primary expense

Bread was the cornerstone of the diet for the poor, who often spent 50 percent or more of their income on it.

Music

Church and celebrations used town pipers

In early modern German towns, town pipers’ wind instruments were used at church services and also for special occasions such as weddings or house concerts.

Daily life

Seasonal and limited schooling

There was no general compulsory schooling, and children often attended only during winter months because their labor was required for farm work in the summer. Instruction focused primarily on memorizing the Bible and learning to pray, with limited teaching of reading and writing.