Prince Christian William of Denmark

What people wore

Repair and recycling of clothing

Archaeological findings in Copenhagen show that men's hats, knitted socks, and gloves were frequently repaired and reused. Wigs found in the area were likely discarded only after human hair was harvested for making new wigs.

Daily life

Water and Beer Consumption

Drinking water was often contaminated due to proximity to waste and latrines, leading many to avoid plain water in favor of beer, which was a standard beverage for all social classes.

Work

Demanding nature of everyday work tasks

Compulsory labor for estate owners could be overwhelming, with some farmers complaining they had no free days. On baking days, women often began work at 2 or 3 a.m. to finish before the standard working day commenced.

Music

Popular tavern games

At home and in taverns, people enjoyed playing card games like lanter, l'hombre, and skervensel, using tokens and coins as currency for bets.

At the table

Beer consumption in daily life

Beer was an essential part of the daily diet, consumed morning, afternoon, and evening by people of all social classes. Adults typically consumed at least twelve barrels of beer per year.

Getting around

Travel by farm wagons

Ordinary people mostly traveled between towns using small horse-drawn farm wagons, as there were no railways or steamships for public transport in this period. Passengers could hire a farmer and his wagon if they did not own a vehicle themselves.

What it cost

Rye bread price in the 1600s

In the 1600s, a pound of rye bread typically cost 1 to 2 skilling, though prices could rise significantly during grain shortages.