Canute of Denmark

What people wore

Slitted fashion trends

By 1544, a popular, albeit impractical, fashion trend involved cutting long, narrow slits into clothing to reveal the layers worn underneath. Even young children were expected to wear these strange, cut-out garments as soon as they could walk.

Daily life

Cooking Methods and Kitchen Safety

Ordinary people cooked over open fires, often using pots of ceramic, copper, or tin, as indoor ovens were typically used only once a month for baking. Because open fire was considered dangerous, specialized kitchen functions were sometimes moved to separate buildings like dedicated brew-houses, bakeries, or cooking sheds.

Work

Beer as a dietary staple

Because unboiled water was often unhealthy and milk was scarce, beer was the most common daily drink for the population.

Music

Music and Games in Daily Life

During the 16th century, the term playing (at lege) was used for both music, dice, and cards, while flute, shawm, and organ were common instruments at festivities.

At the table

Herring and kale as staples

Salted herring was a staple food for many, supplemented by kale as a crucial winter vegetable because it could survive outdoors all year.

Getting around

Limited capacity of peasant wagons

Peasant wagons used for transport were very small, typically carrying only about 100 bricks or one to two barrels of grain per load.

What it cost

Prices of poultry in 1510

In 1510, a goose could be purchased for 1 skilling dansk, while a hen cost 6 penninge dansk.