Margaret of East-Frisia

What people wore

Women's Stockings and Garters

Peasant women wore stockings that reached above the knee, which were held in place by garters tied above the calf. These were often made from wool and cut at a 45-degree angle to the grain to ensure they were stretchable and fit tightly.

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.

Work

Late night threshing work in autumn

In rural areas, farmers threshing grain by hand in autumn worked until 10 or 11 p.m. to finish the task, often consuming schnapps to sustain themselves.

Music

Carnival Dances and Singing Traditions

During the Nuremberg carnival, butchers performed a traditional round dance in public, which was supported by the city council and accompanied by professional town pipers. Dancers also frequently sang as they performed in these rounds, although some city councils prohibited the singing of shameful songs during the festivities.

At the table

German reputation for fatty, mustard-heavy diets

Germans were known for a fatty diet, using lard and butter extensively for cooking, and were famous for smearing generous amounts of mustard on meat.

Getting around

River travel was significantly faster

Travel by water was faster; flat-bottomed river boats could cover 100 to 150 kilometers downstream in a single day under optimal conditions.

What it cost

Soldier pay and equipment costs

A Landsknecht soldier earned 4 gulden per month in 1507, but had to pay for his own food, clothing, and equipment, which included a full suit of armor costing 16 gulden.