Marie Margarita von Habsburg

What people wore

Price of smoke cloaks

In 1680, the price for a yard of smoke cloak, a popular thin black accessory, was set at seven and a half reales.

Daily life

Strict penalties for illegal waste dumping

On September 23, 1639, a decree in Madrid mandated that waste must be emptied only through street doors at specific times, with penalties including 100 lashes and six years of exile for servants caught throwing it out of windows.

News and letters

Duplicating letters to ensure delivery

Sea mail to the Americas was so uncertain that people often sent duplicate or even sextuplicate copies of letters via different routes to ensure delivery.

Music

The controversial zarabanda dance

The zarabanda was a popular but controversial dance known for its lascivious movements, often accompanied by singing, guitar, tambourine, and castanets.

At the table

Survival diet using chestnuts and nuts

In some northern regions of Spain, when grain was scarce, families survived for six months or more by eating chestnuts, nuts, and various wild fruits and herbs. This reliance on non-grain staples was a common adaptation to regional food shortages.

Getting around

A curious spectacle in 1625 Madrid

In 1625, the Marquis of Toral introduced the first glass-windowed carriage in Madrid, attracting curious crowds who followed the vehicle to see if the glass would break on the rough roads.

Work

Working hours and contract benefits

Laborers were required to work from sunrise to sunset, which meant starting at 6:00 AM in the summer and 7:00 AM in the winter. Employers were often obligated to provide not just a wage, but also meals, wine, and sometimes clothing or housing as part of the employment contract.