Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark

What people wore

Clothing as economic currency for artisans

Artisan families in towns like Elsinore used clothing as economic currency that could be turned into cash, and inventories show that garments were personal assets of significant value.

Daily life

Beer instead of water for drinking

Water was rarely drunk plain because it was often considered unsafe; instead, even children commonly drank beer, which was typically weak and sour. Water was primarily used for cooking and household needs, often sourced from wells that required careful management to prevent contamination.

Work

Common Occupations of Ordinary People

Most people were peasants working on family farms, while townspeople included merchants and guild-regulated craftsmen. Unskilled work like day laboring was also common, especially for the landless.

Music

Popular Music and Instruments at Gatherings

Musicians, often called pipers, frequently played pipe and drum simultaneously at weddings and social gatherings, using instruments like the shawm, which was a popular domestic instrument.

At the table

Kale sustained families through winter

Kale was a vital vitamin source for ordinary people because it was the only vegetable that could survive outdoors all winter. Consequently, home gardens were often referred to as kale-yards.

Getting around

Frequent carriage changes in winter

Travelers often had to change carriages every two to four miles in winter because coachmen were unwilling to travel far and horses tired quickly in the snow.

What it cost

Cost of poultry and eggs

At midsummer 1582 in Helsingør, a pair of fat chickens cost 50 øre and twenty eggs cost 25 øre.