Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg

Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg was the daughter of William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Infanta Marie Anne of Portugal.

Jugendstil reform dress in Luxembourg

Around 1905 to 1910, Luxembourgish fashion included refined Jugendstil reform dresses made of cream-colored raw silk with decorative soutache embroidery.

Public shaming for late-night partying

If a man stayed out too late partying at a kermess, his wife would hang blue trousers outside their home to invite friends over to gossip about him. Conversely, a husband whose wife went on an extended bender would hang a blue apron outside to achieve the same effect.

Street musicians collected donations during fairs

Musicians paraded through streets playing the Hämmelsmarsch, a traditional song, to invite people to fairs and collect financial donations from the public.

Wooden rattles replaced church bells during Easter

During Holy Week, when church bells traditionally flew to Rome, children used wooden rattles and drums to announce services, receiving Easter eggs and coins as rewards.

Bus travel to Kirchberg

A private bus service between the railway station and Kirchberg operated twice on weekdays and four times on market days or Sundays, with a journey time of 30 minutes.

Slow tram speed on steep slopes

The electric tram on the Neudorf line traveled at a slow speed of 6 km/h when navigating the 10 percent gradient of Montée de Clausen.

Lack of basic home amenities

Around 1900, many simple homes in Luxembourg lacked basic amenities like running water, gas, electricity, and indoor toilets. People often relied on outdoor latrines characterized by a simple heart-shaped cutout in the door.

Schooling and child labor exemptions

While a 1912 law established seven years of free primary schooling for all, many children were granted temporary exemptions starting at age 11 to work. Additionally, due to high class sizes, the few available schools struggled to accommodate all children.

Potatoes were the daily staple food

During this period, potatoes were the staple food for rural families, leading to the nickname "Potato John" for Luxembourgish soldiers. Peasants commonly ate dishes made from potatoes, such as potato soup or pancakes fried in butter or lard.

Thrifty cooking with fats and offal

Ordinary families frequently used lard (Schmalz) as a fat for cooking and spread it on bread, while meat, particularly smoked pork, was typically reserved for festive occasions. Traditional dishes often incorporated thrifty use of leftovers, including offal like liver, heart, and lungs, which were used to make hearty soups such as Gehäck.

Daily wages for ordinary workers in 1902

In 1902, the common daily wage for an ordinary male worker in Luxembourg was generally fixed between 2.50 and 3 francs, depending on the commune.

1899 market food prices

In 1899, the market price for one kilogram of butter was 2.725 francs in Luxembourg city, while one kilogram of beef cost 1.35 francs.

Hard Labor for Laundresses

Professional laundresses often worked in freezing water by rivers or in public washhouses, especially during winter.

Miner's Work Week

Miners in the early 20th century typically worked 56 hours per week in iron ore mines.