son Oldenburg

What people wore

Clothing as economic currency for artisans

Artisan families in towns like Elsinore used clothing as economic currency that could be turned into cash, and inventories show that garments were personal assets of significant value.

Daily life

Beer instead of water for drinking

Water was rarely drunk plain because it was often considered unsafe; instead, even children commonly drank beer, which was typically weak and sour. Water was primarily used for cooking and household needs, often sourced from wells that required careful management to prevent contamination.

Work

Memorable Work Facts

Some workers were paid almost entirely in kind, like one stable worker who received 99% of his pay in rye and barley. Tower musicians in Copenhagen had strict schedules, including playing instruments at 5 AM, 10 AM, and 5 PM.

Music

Popular Music and Instruments at Gatherings

Musicians, often called pipers, frequently played pipe and drum simultaneously at weddings and social gatherings, using instruments like the shawm, which was a popular domestic instrument.

At the table

Breakfast consisted of beer and bread

A common breakfast was oellebroed, a warm dish made by dipping bread into beer. Children at schools, such as those in Soroe, were served this meal around 7:00 in the morning.

Getting around

Perilous boat crossings of the Belt

Crossing the Great Belt could be treacherous, requiring passengers to hire rowboats and sometimes wait days for calm weather, while ice might necessitate passengers walking on frozen patches.

What it cost

Cost of poultry and eggs

At midsummer 1582 in Helsingør, a pair of fat chickens cost 50 øre and twenty eggs cost 25 øre.