Catherine of Pomerania, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg

What people wore

Women's Stockings and Garters

Peasant women wore stockings that reached above the knee, which were held in place by garters tied above the calf. These were often made from wool and cut at a 45-degree angle to the grain to ensure they were stretchable and fit tightly.

Daily life

Small, dark peasant homes housing livestock

Ordinary peasant homes were typically small, dark, two-room huts made from materials like mud and straw, often featuring dirt floors and thatched roofs with few or no windows to keep out the cold. In many households, it was common to bring livestock inside during the winter to keep them warm and safe.

Work

Late night threshing work in autumn

In rural areas, farmers threshing grain by hand in autumn worked until 10 or 11 p.m. to finish the task, often consuming schnapps to sustain themselves.

Music

Carnival Dances and Singing Traditions

During the Nuremberg carnival, butchers performed a traditional round dance in public, which was supported by the city council and accompanied by professional town pipers. Dancers also frequently sang as they performed in these rounds, although some city councils prohibited the singing of shameful songs during the festivities.

At the table

Laborer purchasing power in 1500s Augsburg

In Augsburg, a day laborer's daily wage could purchase six pounds of meat or seven eggs, a peck of peas, and a quart of wine, alongside bread.

Getting around

Carriages were uncomfortable and rare

Carriages were uncomfortable, unsprung vehicles primarily used by women, the sick, or prisoners, as they were prone to squeaking and shaking on poor roads.

What it cost

Meat prices and daily wages

A daily wage for a laborer in Augsburg was equivalent to the value of 5 to 6 pounds of the best meat. In Bavaria, one pound of the best beef cost 2 pfennige, while a day laborer earned 18 pfennige daily.