Carlos I of Portugal

Music

Music and work festivities

During collective agricultural work like rye threshing or grape harvests, friends and neighbors would gather to help, always ending the day with festivities, music, and dancing. Large farms often hosted these parties, with landlords providing wine and inviting the best local musicians and singers.

Daily life

Cooking and diet basics

Common people cooked their meals over an open fire, often using three stones or basic hearths without chimneys, while water was generally not piped into their homes. Diet for laborers was simple, consisting primarily of bread, vegetables, bacon, and occasionally sardines or cod.

What it cost

Low wages for Porto factory workers

In Porto, factory workers earned an average of 420 réis per day in the late 19th century, while young female workers often received only about 40 réis, which was not enough to purchase a single kilogram of bread.

What people wore

Personalized Embroidery as Identity Markers

To express personal identity, men often embroidered their names on the chest of their linen shirts, while women displayed their initials on their aprons or vest backs. These personalized details served as markers of individual pride within the rural community.

Getting around

Trains versus Stagecoaches

By 1868, trains were significantly cheaper and faster than stagecoaches, charging 10 réis per kilometer in 3rd class compared to 25 réis for a stagecoach.

At the table

Pork and bread consumption habits

Pork was the primary meat in the rural diet, preserved by salting or smoking in the chimney. Wheat bread was considered a luxury and was typically reserved only for feast days.