Remigian Zaleski

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.

Daily life

Daily water access and wells

Accessing water was physically demanding, often requiring the use of wells with iron-fitted buckets and hooks, as river or moat water was considered unsuitable for drinking.

Work

Common roles for peasants and laborers

The majority of the population were peasants who worked their own plots while also performing mandatory labor, known as pańszczyzna, on their lord's estate. This labor requirement typically involved 1 to 3 days of work per week, often including manual labor or providing their own draught animals like horses and oxen for plowing.

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.

At the table

Everyday drinks and home brewing

Beer was a primary everyday beverage, often brewed within the household using large tubs and cauldrons, while mead was also a common drink.

Getting around

Daily travel distances for commoners

Travelers on foot or in wagons covered approximately 20 to 30 kilometers per day, while those on horseback could manage 30 to 40 kilometers.

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.