son of von Holstein-Gottorp

What people wore

Festive men's leather breeches

For festive occasions, men in some areas wore leather breeches tied below the knee with colorful, tasseled ribbons and knee-high boots with red heels.

Getting around

Winter sledding for heavy transport

During the winter, when snow and ice created smooth surfaces, it was much easier to transport heavy and bulky goods by sled than in the muddy conditions of spring and autumn.

At the table

Salted food and diluted beer consumption

Food was often heavily salted for preservation, particularly meat and fish, which provided essential protein alongside dairy. People commonly drank large quantities of beer, often diluted with water, as a standard daily beverage.

Music

Rural wedding festivities lasted days

In rural Swedish wedding customs during this era, celebrations often spanned from Sunday to Wednesday, with dancing starting after the first evening meal. Couples typically danced two dances at a time, such as a minuet and a polska, or two polskas.

Daily life

Self-sufficient rural households without schools

Schools did not exist in the countryside, and households were responsible for producing everything needed for daily life, including tools and clothing. Medical care was also absent in rural areas, leading families to rely on traditional home remedies found in household books.

What it cost

Rising cost of rye relative to wages

Between 1770 and 1784, the price of rye was 31 percent higher relative to the wages of day-workers compared to the period of 1735 to 1744.