Eudoxia Streshneva

At the table

Common beverages: Kvass and beer

Ordinary Russians relied on kvass, a fermented beverage made from grain, and beer as their everyday drinks. Tea was first introduced as a rare medicinal gift for the Tsar in 1638 and was not a common household drink for ordinary people.

What people wore

Peasant clothing and winter protection

Peasant women wore long shirts and, on festive occasions, red ones, while girls crafted crowns from tree bark called kokoshniks. During winter, both men and women relied on sheepskin or hare fur coats for warmth.

Getting around

Sleighs and travel self-sufficiency

Sleighs were the preferred transport for Russians even in summer, and travelers often had to be self-sufficient by carrying axes, fire-making tools, food, and cooking pots.

What it cost

Cost of footwear

In the late 17th century, a pair of fine morocco leather boots cost 1 ruble, while simpler leather shoes were significantly cheaper.

Music

Women's street swing entertainment

Women enjoyed swinging on ropes or boards, where men would push them to great heights for a small payment.

Daily life

Wooden log huts and smoky interiors

Ordinary homes were wooden log huts, often heated black-style without a chimney, forcing smoke to escape through a small window. These huts frequently lacked beds and served as shared spaces for the family and young livestock in winter.