Princess Elisabeth of Romania

Getting around

Warning the public of trains

Early railway operations were so unfamiliar that a rider on horseback was sometimes sent ahead of the train blowing a horn to warn people and animals to stay clear of the tracks.

At the table

Meat was reserved for special holidays

Even in households that raised animals, meat like ox or buffalo pastrami was rarely eaten, usually reserved only for major Christian holidays. Eggs, butter, and poultry were frequently sold to bring money into the home rather than being consumed by the family.

What people wore

Peasant women's daily and festive attire

Peasant women often wore white smock-frocks embroidered with black, red, and orange, sometimes shot with threads of gold and silver for special occasions. They also wore red gowns and yellow or red headkerchiefs while working in the fields.

Music

Impromptu village musical competitions

During village parties, guests engaged in impromptu musical performances and competitive shouting matches, where men and women split into groups to trade satirical verses.

Daily life

Schooling became compulsory for kids

An 1864 act endowed Romania with free and compulsory elementary education, and later described as compelling families to send children to primary school. Education methods could be harsh and parents often avoided schooling when the benefit was unclear.