Lovisa Hedvig of Sweden

What people wore

Aprons were essential for women

Until the mid-19th century, it was considered immoral for a woman to appear outside her farm without an apron, which served both as protection during work and as decoration on festive occasions.

Getting around

Stagecoach travel duration and luggage limits

A stagecoach journey between Stockholm and Gothenburg covered 50 Swedish miles and took 4 days. Passengers were allowed to carry baggage weighing up to 60 pounds.

At the table

Everyday drinks were fermented to avoid contamination

People drank "blanda," a mixture of skimmed sour milk and water, and fermented malt-based "small beer" to avoid drinking contaminated well water.

Music

The dominance of the polska dance

By the mid-19th century, the polska had evolved as the primary dance and tune style for the fiddle in Sweden's provinces.

Daily life

Diet and coffee restrictions

Coffee was a rare luxury that children and servants often did not taste; one boy was even paid two riksdaler banko annually by his father to abstain from it and sugar. Meals were commonly prepared and eaten by the hearth using simple tools, often consisting of potatoes, herring, and bread.

What it cost

Budgeting for food and housing

From the 17th century through the early 19th century, ordinary wage earners typically spent approximately 80 to 85 percent of their income on food and housing. The remaining small portion had to cover essential costs for clothing and footwear.