Juliana of Stolberg

What people wore

Everyday and Sunday Best Clothing

Most people owned at least two sets of clothing, keeping one for everyday work and another cleaner set for church and social events. Clothing was frequently patched and mended, with garments and good linen undergarments often bequeathed to heirs.

Daily life

Small, dark peasant homes housing livestock

Ordinary peasant homes were typically small, dark, two-room huts made from materials like mud and straw, often featuring dirt floors and thatched roofs with few or no windows to keep out the cold. In many households, it was common to bring livestock inside during the winter to keep them warm and safe.

Work

Craftsman wages and food prices

South German masons and carpenters earned approximately 20 denarii in summer and 16 in winter daily, plus board and lodging. During this time, beef cost about 2 denarii per pound.

Music

Rural Music and Dance Instruments

Travelers often brought diverse instruments to rural areas, including the dulcimer, hurdy-gurdy, shawm, and bagpipes to accompany community festivities. In these settings, people often danced in circles, sometimes singing traditional songs without instrumental accompaniment.

At the table

Regional bread preferences in Germany

In northern regions, dark sourdough rye bread was the staple food, while in the south, laborers expected lighter bread made from wheat.

Getting around

River travel was significantly faster

Travel by water was faster; flat-bottomed river boats could cover 100 to 150 kilometers downstream in a single day under optimal conditions.

What it cost

Meat prices and daily wages

A daily wage for a laborer in Augsburg was equivalent to the value of 5 to 6 pounds of the best meat. In Bavaria, one pound of the best beef cost 2 pfennige, while a day laborer earned 18 pfennige daily.