Herman Wrangel

At the table

Heavy Use of Spices in Cooking

People commonly seasoned their food with spices like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, which were also used to create warm, spiced beer known as bragott. This practice reflects a widespread culinary habit of heavy seasoning that lasted throughout the period.

What people wore

Functional accessories on belts

Both men and women wore belts where they carried practical items, including leather pouches and knives, and women specifically kept farm keys on theirs.

Getting around

Winter travel by sledge and guest house

Travelers often used sledges during winter, as road conditions were frequently difficult due to deep snow and ice. Hiring horses and drivers for these sledges was managed through a system of guest houses located about every two Swedish miles.

What it cost

Value of clothing items

Stolen trousers were valued at 6 or 8 öre, reflecting the high cost of clothing items in the 16th century.

Music

Chanting the mass to the laity

In the Lutheran Mass, priests chanted biblical passages to the congregation using melodic formulas called accentus, which helped illiterate laypeople engage with the text.

Daily life

Cramped winter living with livestock

In winter, peasant families lived in a single room with their young animals; infants slept in hanging wooden cradles, and other children slept near the baking oven for warmth. Households often kept the door threshold very high to keep young livestock inside the room.