Janusz Zasławski

What people wore

The everyday jermiak overcoat

Ordinary city dwellers wore the jermiak, a light, collarless, and unlined overcoat that was typically made of grey or black home-made kersey fabric.

Daily life

Peasant home construction and features

Most peasants lived in modest wooden farmhouses equipped with a stove, though some in the Samogitia region resided in dwellings called a numas that featured a fireplace.

Work

Working hours from sunrise to sunset

Peasants worked from sunrise to sunset, with three scheduled breaks for those using draught animals, and shorter half-hour breaks for others.

Music

Jesuit college dance parties

Students at Jesuit colleges sometimes organized dance parties to enliven their daily lives, featuring Western-style dances such as Chorea, Paduana, and Galiarda.

At the table

Staple foods beyond grain

While meat was typically reserved for wealthier tables or special occasions, salted herring was a common and important preserved fish consumed by city residents and peasants alike. Milk products like butter and curd cheese, often flavored with caraway, were also key staples in the diet of many families.

Getting around

Day-long trips between local towns

A trip from Vilnius to Kaunas, now under two hours, took a full day because traveling at night was dangerous and often avoided.

What it cost

Rising prices of livestock

During the 16th century, the price of common livestock such as cows tripled and pigs doubled due to a period of significant price increases.