Martha Mikhailovna Romanov

What people wore

Preserving festive clothing

To protect expensive holiday clothing from moths and mustiness during storage, people kept them in chests covered with water mouse skin.

Daily life

Smoke and Light in the Home

In most homes, chimneys were not used until the 18th century, so smoke from the stove often exited through a hole in the roof or simply filled the living space. For artificial light during dark winters, families used luchiny, which were thin splinters of resinous pine burned in a metal holder.

Work

Agricultural Serfs and Their Daily Routine

Most serfs worked in agriculture, enduring a daily cycle that began between 3 and 4 a.m. during the growing season. They spent their days performing barshchina, which was unpaid corvée labor on their lord's fields, followed by labor on their own small allotments to provide for their families.

Music

Solitary dancing and embroidered handkerchiefs

When dancing, Russians traditionally did not hold hands; instead, individuals danced alone, often waving intricately embroidered handkerchiefs while moving their arms, shoulders, and hips.

At the table

Oat flour tolokno was a daily staple

Ordinary people frequently ate tolokno, a simple dish made by mixing oat flour with water, salt, and sometimes berries or honey. It was a staple, especially on fasting days.

Getting around

Sleighs and Horseback Travel Preferences

Sleighs were a favored mode of transport, and it was not uncommon for a bride to travel to church in a sleigh even during the summer. Furthermore, coaches were primarily used by aristocratic women, while men usually preferred riding on horseback.

What it cost

Monthly earnings for skilled workers

In the mid-17th century, a stonemason or carpenter in Moscow typically earned between 20 and 40 kopecks per month for a 12-hour workday.