Philip III, Count of Hanau-Münzenberg

At the table

Grain porridges were a staple food

For ordinary rural families, the daily diet relied heavily on grain-based porridges made from millet or oats, often cooked with water or milk and seasoned with salt. While bread was more common among the nobility and townspeople, peasants frequently consumed this hearty porridge as their primary meal.

What people wore

Everyday and Sunday Best Clothing

Most people owned at least two sets of clothing, keeping one for everyday work and another cleaner set for church and social events. Clothing was frequently patched and mended, with garments and good linen undergarments often bequeathed to heirs.

Getting around

Carriages were uncomfortable and rare

Carriages were uncomfortable, unsprung vehicles primarily used by women, the sick, or prisoners, as they were prone to squeaking and shaking on poor roads.

What it cost

Laborer wages and shoe costs

In early 16th-century Saxony, a day laborer could earn 9 groschen per week with keep or 16 groschen without keep. For comparison, a pair of shoes cost 3 groschen.

Music

Strict regulation of dancing and music

City authorities strictly regulated festivals, banning "useless and indecent dancing" and restricting music performances at weddings to a maximum of three musicians.

Daily life

Small, dark peasant homes housing livestock

Ordinary peasant homes were typically small, dark, two-room huts made from materials like mud and straw, often featuring dirt floors and thatched roofs with few or no windows to keep out the cold. In many households, it was common to bring livestock inside during the winter to keep them warm and safe.