Stanislovas Radziminskis

At the table

Dietary staples of peasant households

In the late 16th century, ordinary peasant households commonly consumed groats and rye bread, while pork, sausages, and hams were kept in storage for later consumption.

What people wore

Women's Wardrobe Value

Women's clothing was often twice as expensive as men's, with a set including a shirt, skirt, and corset reaching a value of 52 gold coins.

Getting around

Common modes of travel and transport

People traveled by foot, horseback, or in horse-drawn vehicles like simple carts and covered carriages; rivers were also used for transport.

What it cost

Cost of Clothing and Footwear

A pair of shoes cost between 7 and 8 groschen, which meant a laborer had to work for about four days to afford them. A high-quality sheepskin coat was much more expensive, costing 21 groschen, or about two weeks of work.

Music

Festive Dances and Carnival Celebrations

During festivals like Carnival, musicians played for dance parties that could last for several days, involving noblemen and commoners alike. Dances like the hajduk, a lively two-part dance, and goniony, a chase-like play-dance, were popular among the gentry.

Daily life

Peasant home layouts and heating

Most peasant families lived in modest wooden houses featuring a stove, though some people in the Samogitia region used a numas, a building type with a central open fireplace.