Isabella Johansdotter

At the table

Beaver was considered a fasting fish

People considered beavers to be fish because they swim with their tails, allowing them to eat beaver meat during religious fasting periods when meat was otherwise prohibited.

What people wore

Utility items worn on belts

Both men and women wore belts where they kept knives and leather pouches; women additionally used their belts to carry the keys to the farm.

Getting around

Travel by Foot and Horseback

In the 16th century, Swedes primarily traveled on foot or horseback, as carriages were not yet common for general use. People often traveled in groups for safety and to share the burdens of the journey.

What it cost

Price of bread and meat in Ångermanland

In Ångermanland, a single loaf of bread was valued at 2 öre, while 1 liter of meat cost 24 öre.

Music

Flutes, drums, and bagpipes for dancing

Musicians often led dances using flutes, drums, or popular bagpipes to accompany the festivities.

Daily life

Living in a one-room cottage with livestock

Ordinary homes were typically one-room cottages with dirt floors, where the entire family lived and slept alongside livestock like pigs, cows, and hens during the winter. These cottages were drafty, often lit by only a single small window covered with parchment or glass, and kept warm by a baking oven that families lit before dawn.