Johann Joachim, Herr von Zinzendorf und Pottendorf

What people wore

Common rural clothing in the 1500s

In the second half of the 16th century, common rural clothing for men included shirts, caps, cloaks, woollen coats, and trousers known as poctivice. Women's wardrobes comprised shirts, aprons, various types of skirts, bodices, and furs such as those made of rabbit or fox.

Daily life

Water carried from public wells

Water was not piped and had to be laboriously carried from public wells in wooden buckets. Some households utilized specialized ceramic jugs to keep drinking water cool.

Work

Common occupations and labor regulations

Common urban jobs included brewers, bakers, butchers, smiths, tailors, and porters, while many households also functioned as combined work units for production and trade. In mining regions, workers were subject to strict regulations governing their shifts and compensation, such as mandatory notice periods of one week for laborers.

Music

Music in church and at festivities

During church festivities, music was performed by parish school pupils, members of music-loving literary brotherhoods, and, on major feast days, by city trombonists. While religious services were often accompanied by plainchant, even young students were taught to sing polyphony.

At the table

Labor-intensive cloud porridge dish

A labor-intensive dish known as cloud porridge required beating egg whites for an entire day or night until they formed a stable, soap-like foam. The chef had to be careful that wind did not collapse the foam before serving.

Getting around

High cost of travel

Travel costs were significant, with a typical trip from Dvur Kralove to Prague costing one kopa of groschen, which equaled the yearly salary of a teacher. The cost included wagon fees, gratuities, and food for the driver.

What it cost

Regulated prices for footwear, 1578

By 1578, regulation set the price for sturdy riding boots at 1 kopa and 20 groschen, while simpler shoes were priced at 44 groschen.