Mikhail Mikhaylovich Kantakuzen

What people wore

Traditional white trousers gathered at ankles

Men commonly wore ițari, traditional tight white trousers made of homespun fabric that were often longer than the leg, causing them to gather naturally at the ankle. In colder months, they wore heavier wool variations known as cioareci or bernevici.

Getting around

Travel Delays Caused by Weather

During the mid-19th century, traveling in autumn or spring was notoriously difficult due to mud, which could reduce travel speeds to as little as 4 km per hour even with eight horses pulling a carriage. Travelers often faced long delays at rivers or fords, where carts would gather for up to a week waiting for water levels to recede.

Music

Traditional Taraf Bands and Instruments

Fiddler bands, known as tarafuri, typically played a mix of violin, panpipes, and the kobza lute, later adding the cimbalum. These musicians were central to local festivities, often performing inside a circle of dancers.

Daily life

Poor housing and shared living spaces

In many rural areas, peasant families lived in small, damp, two-story houses with dirt floors, often sharing space and warmth with their livestock during the winter. Urban poor households frequently lacked windows, relied on smoke-filled kitchens, and suffered from a lack of sanitation, such as sewers or waste collection.