Elisabeth Sophia Gyldenløve

At the table

Beer was the standard daily beverage

Ordinary families in Denmark drank beer throughout the day, including children, because fresh water was often not available or unsafe. An adult was expected to consume at least twelve barrels of beer annually.

What people wore

Mourning skirt used for napping

Funerals in Store Magleby until the 1880s featured a black skirt called a job, which women pulled over their heads to hide their grief and sometimes to nap.

Getting around

Memorable royal logistics and animal transport

Large-scale royal travel was logistically demanding; for example, a 1643 trip by Prince Christian through Køge required the mobilization of 57 wagons in a single day. Another unusual journey involved a dromedary being led from Copenhagen to Køge in 1653, with a boy guiding the animal while a stableman rode alongside on a horse.

What it cost

Rye bread price in the 1600s

In the 1600s, a pound of rye bread typically cost 1 to 2 skilling, though prices could rise significantly during grain shortages.

Music

Singing ballads as everyday music

Singing was the most common form of music for the masses, centered on ancient ballads passed down through generations, which were sung during festivities and social gatherings.

Daily life

Water quality concerns

Due to poor water quality, drinking plain water was often avoided or discouraged, with some people preferring to boil it slowly to remove impurities.