Anna Maria Radziwiłł

At the table

Meat was a rare treat for peasants

While wealthy city dwellers consumed meat regularly, ordinary families and peasants relied primarily on grain-based dishes like bread and porridge, eating meat only on rare occasions.

What people wore

Commoners Wore Modest Undyed Woolen Clothing

Ordinary men and women frequently wore outer garments made of simple, undyed wool known as sermėgos, often in shades of grey or black. While the nobility favored bright colors, commoners typically used home-produced fabrics in natural white, grey, and brown tones.

Getting around

Walking and carriage travel speeds

Common people typically travelled on foot at a speed of 3–4 km/h, covering about 20–25 km per day. Traveling in large groups with carts was significantly slower, often moving at similar or lower speeds.

What it cost

Cost of sauerkraut in 17th century Lithuania

In the mid-17th century, a barrel of sauerkraut cost 3 groschen.

Music

Jesuit college students hosted dance parties

Students at Jesuit colleges, such as in Polotsk, frequently organized dance parties featuring Western-style dances like Chorea, Paduana, and Galiarda to brighten their daily lives.

Daily life

Cooking and Food Processing Tools

Cooking took place near a heat source using suspended cauldrons, three-legged pots, or iron frying pans. Grain was ground at home using hand mills, and mortars were used for other food processing tasks.