Josef Holstein-Ledreborg

What people wore

Multipurpose mourning skirt for naps

Until the 1880s, Amager women used a black mourning skirt called a jøb, which they could pull over their heads to hide their grief or, occasionally, to nap during church services.

Getting around

Faster travel between Odense and Svendborg

Before the railway, a stagecoach trip from Odense to Svendborg (47 km) took 5½ hours, but the train reduced this to 95-100 minutes.

At the table

Earnings and food costs for children

A child in 1882 could earn 25 øre for 500 small fire-starters, an amount that could buy only a quarter of a loaf of rye bread and 2 kilograms of fat.

Music

Wedding dances and lively music traditions

During 19th-century weddings, musicians played for dancers from the afternoon until the following morning. Traditional chain dances were common, and musicians were often paid by passing a plate around, sometimes playfully involving items like a wooden shoe to prompt guests to contribute more.

Daily life

Low wages for domestic help

A maidservant, who might serve a family faithfully for a lifetime, earned only 6–8 kroner per month.

What it cost

Budget of a Copenhagen worker's family, 1872

In 1872, a worker in Copenhagen earning 14 kroner per week had to prioritize spending on food, as feeding each child cost an additional 90 kroner annually.