John the Younger, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg

What people wore

Legal Restrictions on Clothing Materials

Ordinary men and women were legally prohibited from wearing luxury textiles like velvet, damask, or silk, though non-noble unmarried women could wear simple silk or velvet hair ribbons.

Daily life

Living in cramped, cold timber-framed houses

Most ordinary Danish farmers lived in small, cold timber-framed houses built directly on the ground, sharing their limited space with livestock to help stay warm. People typically slept in short, cupboard-like alcove beds, often sitting upright because they believed lying flat was unhealthy or due to limited space.

Work

Rural family roles and farming tasks

The vast majority of the population worked on family farms, where men performed heavy labor like plowing and harvesting, while women managed tasks such as milking cows, baking bread, and brewing beer.

Music

Hymns replace dance in churches

Following the 1536 Reformation, communal hymn singing in Danish became a central and active part of church services, though the authorities actively suppressed folk dancing inside churches.

At the table

Limited Access to Fresh Meat

Fresh meat was rare for commoners, who typically relied on salted meat for most of the year, reserving fresh meat primarily for the Christmas season.

Getting around

Traveling by foot or wagon

In the 1500s, people typically traveled by foot, horseback, or in wagons, covering about 6 to 7 km per hour in a walking pace.

What it cost

Income of a Hessian foot soldier

A foot soldier hired to serve the Landgrave of Hesse could earn an annual salary of 40 gulden, along with two sets of court clothing.