Fernando de Borbón y Bragança

At the table

Meat was for special occasions

Meat was consumed only on special occasions, as livestock like chickens were kept primarily for eggs and were only eaten when they were too old to lay.

What people wore

Practical and professional male attire

Ordinary men frequently wore practical work clothes, such as the white shirt used even by cooks and professional garments like the apron for butchers or protective leg warmers for gardeners. While elite men moved toward sober suits, popular style featured embroidered waistcoats and the fajín sash.

Getting around

Daily travel speeds on horseback

Postal services and private individuals traveling by horse in the early 19th century could reach average speeds of 36 to 48 kilometers per day. Under optimal conditions on well-maintained roads with fresh horses available at post houses, some could cover 50 to 55 kilometers daily.

What it cost

Work for food and shoes

Due to economic hardship, some workers accepted employment solely in exchange for basic food, housing, or shoe expenses instead of a monetary salary.

Music

Instruments and style in Levante

In the Spanish Levante region, popular music was often performed at home or during festivals using a variety of instruments, including the guitar, bandurria, violin, and traditional percussion like castanets, tambourines, and triangles. These performances were often simple and characterized by a melancholy, genuinely Moorish tone.

Daily life

Schooling interrupted by child labor

Poor children often missed school to work as shepherds or errand boys, struggling to learn because they fell behind whenever they were pulled away for labor.