Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden

Getting around

Train and steamer journey durations

A train journey from Gothenburg to Helsingborg took between 6 1/4 and 11 1/4 hours, while the steamer trip could take 14 to 20 hours. Steamboat passengers were often offered simple refreshments like coffee and biscuits, and stewards expected a tip of 1/2 to 1 crown for a 24-hour voyage.

At the table

Hard rye bread stored on ceiling poles

Families often stored hard rye bread on poles hung from the kitchen ceiling, sometimes baking it only four times a year. In Jonsered, children dipped their dry bread into tall cups of coffee to soften it before eating.

What people wore

Going Barefoot to Preserve Leather Footwear

Due to a shortage of leather, it was common for both men and women to go barefoot to save their shoes, often carrying them in their hands until just before reaching church. Some farmers even applied layers of tar to the soles of their feet in the summer to walk across rough terrain like pine needles and stones.

Music

Herding Calls in Mountain Pastures

Women working in mountain pastures used a distinct vocal technique called kula or other dialectal names to communicate with cattle over distances up to 5 kilometers. This powerful, high-pitched call was used for hours during their 3-4 month stays in the pastures.

Daily life

Iron stoves replaced open hearths

During the late 19th century, iron kitchen stoves became popular and more affordable, allowing households to heat homes more efficiently and improve cooking compared to traditional open hearths. These stoves were often so hot that residents began using double glazing on windows to keep ice from forming on the glass during winter.