Christian X of Denmark

What people wore

Complex tailoring of men's shirts

A traditional Danish man's shirt was often constructed from 15 separate pieces of linen, which were carefully cut from a single piece of fabric to minimize waste and costs.

Getting around

Adjusting watches at train stations

Because of local time differences, passengers had to adjust their pocket watches at every new station until standardized time zones were introduced.

At the table

Sugar becomes an affordable staple

Falling sugar prices made it affordable even in the poorest homes, which contributed to dental decay overtaking malnutrition as a primary medical concern.

Music

Weddings and musician payment in 19th-century Denmark

In the late 19th century, weddings were the most important festive occasions, often lasting two to three days with dancing until dawn. Guests might pay the musicians 3 to 6 marks per plate during these celebrations.

Daily life

Spirits used for cleaning

Because spirits were inexpensive, they were commonly used for household chores, such as washing children's feet when they became dark from black stockings or cleaning windows.

What it cost

Child labor and the cost of food

To survive on very low wages, families relied on child labor, such as making matchsticks; a mother could earn 25 øre for producing 500 small matches, which could purchase only a quarter of a loaf of rye bread and 2 kg of fat.