Karin Månsdotter

What people wore

Daily workwear for peasant women

Ordinary women often worked in long linen chemises and would tie a knot in their skirt to move more easily. Married women covered their heads with a wimple, while young girls left their hair uncovered.

Daily life

Education and work at home

Formal schooling was not available for ordinary children; they learned life skills and Christian catechism at home or through work, as schools were generally reserved for a few boys of higher status. Children were expected to contribute to the household economy from a young age through tasks like spinning wool, tending animals, or manual labor.

Work

Memorable details of survival and labor

Some laborers performed specialized tasks like trampling clay for brick making or breaking flax, while a cottager named Mats Olsson's inventory included only a scythe, five fishing nets, and three iron tools, showing a reliance on varied, low-value items. His small herd of seven animals, including one cow and three sheep, was likely essential for both survival and potential future investment.

Music

Ring dances and communal singing at festivals

People enjoyed singing and dancing in rings or long rows, often in open fields or village squares, during festivities and family celebrations.

At the table

Beaver was considered a fasting fish

People considered beavers to be fish because they swim with their tails, allowing them to eat beaver meat during religious fasting periods when meat was otherwise prohibited.

Getting around

Winter Travel Efficiency

Winter travel was significantly faster than summer travel, as sleds could glide over frozen lakes and rivers, covering 70 to 80 km in a single day. In contrast, summer journeys were often limited to 30 to 50 km per day, depending on whether one was walking or riding a horse.

What it cost

Price of bread and meat in Ångermanland

In Ångermanland, a single loaf of bread was valued at 2 öre, while 1 liter of meat cost 24 öre.