Gerard de Dönhoff

What people wore

Cost of a peasant coat

In 1582, a black sermėga (a type of coat) cost 40 groschen, which was the equivalent price of two pigs or two sheep. Wealthier peasants possessed these higher-quality items, including fur coats trimmed with beaver and suede.

Daily life

Dining and Festive Customs

Social hierarchy dictated tableware, where the poor used wooden dishes while wealthier townspeople used earthenware or metal, and pewter plates were also popular. Festive meals, such as Easter ham and cakes, were significant occasions that households prepared for well in advance.

Work

Widows Managing Artisan Workshops

Artisan widows could sometimes continue running their husband's workshop for one year and one day after his death. To keep the workshop beyond that, they often had to marry another master or employ a skilled journeyman to manage the work.

Music

Wedding musicians and performance disputes

At weddings, musicians were hired to play after feasts, though guests sometimes complained if the musicians played poorly or failed to show up.

At the table

Salted fish supplemented daily diets

Ordinary people had access to salted herring and sprats, which were vital for preservation and frequently supplemented simple daily meals.

Getting around

Winter travel by horse-drawn sledge

Horse-drawn sledges were commonly used for transportation in winter, and they were often considered more valuable and practical than wheeled vehicles even in the 17th century.

What it cost

Staple foods and worker pay

Rye bread was a staple for ordinary people, while white bread was considered a celebratory or refined food in towns. In Riga, herring was sometimes provided as part of payment for workers like stonemasons.