Fernando de Borbón y Battenberg

What people wore

The Protective Waist Sash

Workers commonly wore a sash or faja around the waist to protect the lumbar area while lifting heavy weights, a practice that remains part of traditional festive attire today.

Getting around

Circular railway tickets for long journeys

At the start of the 20th century, travelers could purchase circular tickets from the Norte Company, allowing them to travel up to 3,000 kilometers over 45 days.

At the table

Common drinks and breakfast habits

Wine was a common beverage often preferred over water, which was frequently considered unsafe for drinking. Lower-class households in cities like Seville might breakfast simply on a cup of chocolate and a roll.

Music

Religious dancing in Seville cathedral

On feast days at the Seville cathedral, twelve youths dressed in 17th-century silk costumes traditionally danced the sevillana before the high altar.

Daily life

Mandatory Schooling vs. Reality

Although primary education was legally mandatory for children up to age 12 in 1901 and age 14 by 1923, poverty often made schooling an unattainable luxury for many families. Education was frequently deprioritized in favor of immediate economic needs and child labor.

What it cost

Daily wages for laborers in 1916

In 1916, while a laborer in Madrid or Barcelona could earn up to 6 pesetas per day, a laborer in Valladolid might earn only 2 pesetas.