Natalia Rozumovska

What people wore

Luxury Materials in Peasant Dress

Peasants occasionally wore expensive imported fabrics like silk, velvet, and damask, often acquired at town markets. For decoration, they sometimes utilized precious furs such as sable, marten, or silver fox, which were typically reserved for the nobility.

Daily life

Sleeping and eating habits

Until the end of the 18th century, beds were rare in peasant households, with most people sleeping on long benches or straw spread directly on the floor. While forks were known, they did not come into general use until the 18th century, so most people ate with their fingers and wooden spoons.

Work

Cash Rents and Honey Taxes

In the 1690s, some peasants in the Kyiv region paid a cash rent of 10 kips of money and 14 buckets of fresh Zhytomyr honey per year instead of labor services.

Music

Wandering theater and feast days

Common people attended wandering theater performances often tied to church feast days, especially during Holy Week. These performances were led by students or graduates of church schools who solicited food and money from the audience.

At the table

Diverse rural food and drink reserves

Rural households maintained diverse food reserves, including smoked meats, sausages, various cheeses, butter, and fish stored in barrels, which contradicts myths of a monotonous peasant diet. Daily drinks often included beer, mead, and spirits, which were brewed or distilled at home or consumed at local taverns.

Getting around

Common Modes of Transportation

Ordinary people typically traveled on foot or by horse-drawn carts and wagons, while wealthy individuals used carriages. Waterways were also used for travel, providing a faster and more comfortable alternative to land routes.

What it cost

Tax paid in yarn or money

In the late 17th century, village peasants sometimes provided yarn as a tax or could instead pay 40 groszy for it.