In the news1883
First national health insurance introduced
Germany became the first country to introduce a national social insurance system with the approval of a worker's health insurance plan.
Munich, 5 Mar 1881 – Schloss Wildenwart, 2 Feb 1948
6 facts1 source
5 Mar 1881
Born in Munich
2 Feb 1948
Dies in Schloss Wildenwart, aged 66
She lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Munich.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1883
Germany became the first country to introduce a national social insurance system with the approval of a worker's health insurance plan.
Getting around
Steamship travel on the Weser River
By the late 19th century, steamships on the Weser river were a popular tourist attraction, with the upstream journey from Hamelin to Münden taking 15 hours and 30 minutes, and the downstream journey taking 8 hours and 29 minutes.
At the table
Simple breakfasts and rare egg treats
Breakfast typically consisted of brown rye bread and a watery brew of coffee and barley, as milk and sugar were considered expensive luxuries. Eggs were an extremely rare delight, and one worker noted that it was amazingly rare for him to even get one.
Around the world · 1879–1882Electric light. Edison’s light bulb and his first power stations, in New York and London, began to light cities with electricity.
What people wore
Rural and urban wedding attire customs
In rural areas, brides traditionally wore black dresses that could be reused for other festive occasions, while white wedding dresses became popular in cities late in the century. Brides traditionally wore a white veil with a myrtle wreath as a symbol of virginity.
Music
Diverse musical repertoires in cities
Musical life was diverse, blending folk music and rustic dances with military band repertoires that featured marches, operetta tunes, and original works.
Daily life
Lighting evolved from kerosene to electric bulbs
Most households relied on kerosene lamps, which were often lined up on a hallway table; one family remembered the smell and the dim light, which contrasted with the later, unpleasantly bright electric bulbs.