Prince Erik, Duke of Västmanland

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

Shared meals and market sausage prices

Peasant families ate soured milk called fillebunke from a large shared trough using individual wooden spoons. On the market, factory workers could buy three sausages for 25 öre to share as a meal.

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.