Leopoldine Eleonore Josephine von der Pfalz

What people wore

Valuable Noblewoman's Clothing

Seventeenth-century noblewomen's wills show that items like fur-lined coats, velvet dresses, and specific headgear such as caps and wimples were vital assets, sometimes valued higher than silver or jewelry.

Daily life

Life regulated by bells and time

Daily rhythms were regulated by church bells, such as the Angelus, which signaled the start of work in the morning, meal breaks at noon, and the end of the day in the evening. School bells also began to be used to call students to class at specific times.

Work

Daily life ruled by the sun

The daily rhythm was dictated by the sun and church bells, with work starting at dawn and ending at dusk, marked by the Angelus bells. Mechanical town clocks existed on towers but were initially seen as symbols of prestige rather than practical tools for counting minutes.

Music

Harvest Festival Music and Processions

During harvest festivals, processions carried elaborate wreaths decorated with grain, flowers, and sometimes live roosters to the church, singing traditional harvest songs while hoping for future abundance.

At the table

Mushrooms as a Common Food Source

People frequently ate mushrooms gathered in forests, including species growing on trees that were dried for preservation. While travelers from France were afraid to eat these due to fear of poisoning, they were a common and accepted food source in Poland.

Getting around

River travel was faster than land journeys

River transport was essential for passengers and goods, with boats traveling approximately 46 kilometers per day on routes like the Vistula. This was faster and safer than land travel, which often suffered from muddy or wobbly roads.

What it cost

Wages for Workers in 17th Century Warsaw

An ordinary worker in Warsaw earned 3 to 4 grosze per day, while a bricklayer, considered elite, could earn up to 16 grosze daily.