Eudoxia Streshneva

Eudoxia Streshneva was Tsaritsa of Russia as the second wife of Tsar Michael of Russia.

Footwear and practical peasant attire

Ordinary people commonly wore bast shoes woven from tree bark or vine twigs, though some used leather soles tied with belts. Zepya, or pockets, were sewn into peasant trousers, which were typically made of canvas or coarse wool.

Peasant clothing and winter protection

Peasant women wore long shirts and, on festive occasions, red ones, while girls crafted crowns from tree bark called kokoshniks. During winter, both men and women relied on sheepskin or hare fur coats for warmth.

Banned street musicians and instruments

Authorities repeatedly banned skomorokhs, itinerant performers who used instruments like domras, gusli, and bagpipes in public spaces.

Singing spiritual songs at home

Spiritual songs known as stikhi were sung by men, women, and beggars at home and church-related events without instrumental accompaniment.

Sleighs and travel self-sufficiency

Sleighs were the preferred transport for Russians even in summer, and travelers often had to be self-sufficient by carrying axes, fire-making tools, food, and cooking pots.

Travel times from Tyumen in 1600-1624

In the early 17th century, Tyumen mail carriers typically took 4 to 7 days to travel by land to Turinsk and 5 to 7 days to reach Tobolsk by the winter route.

The multipurpose masonry stove

The massive masonry stove, occupying nearly a quarter of the home, was used for heating, cooking, and as a primary sleeping area. It was so efficient that it could keep food hot from the morning until lunch.

Wooden log huts and smoky interiors

Ordinary homes were wooden log huts, often heated black-style without a chimney, forcing smoke to escape through a small window. These huts frequently lacked beds and served as shared spaces for the family and young livestock in winter.

Common beverages: Kvass and beer

Ordinary Russians relied on kvass, a fermented beverage made from grain, and beer as their everyday drinks. Tea was first introduced as a rare medicinal gift for the Tsar in 1638 and was not a common household drink for ordinary people.

Everyday oat porridge and salted meat

Families frequently prepared a simple, thick, oat-based porridge or drink called tolo'kno, made by boiling, drying, and grinding oats, then mixing them with water and a little salt. Another staple food was meat, particularly pork, which was salted for winter storage.

Daily wages of workers and craftsmen

In 1613–1614, a skilled craftsman typically earned 4 to 5 kopecks per day, while a simple laborer received 3 kopecks.

City Wages Surpassed Rural Earnings

Real wages for workers were significantly higher in cities like Krakow or Warsaw compared to rural areas, where serfdom and labor bonds depressed earnings.

Common Trades of City Dwellers

Urban workers were often classified by their crafts, including food producers like bakers, metal workers, tanners, and various service providers like bathhouse attendants and porters. Many individuals combined multiple trades to survive, especially given the seasonal nature of their work and the economic impact of the Time of Troubles.

Early Labor and Household Craft Tasks

Child labor started very early; girls were taught to spin at age 6, mastered the sickle by age 10, and were working in fields alongside adults by age 15. Women managed essential household tasks like flax production, which involved a multi-stage process of soaking, crushing, and combing fiber before weaving in the winter.

Severe penalties for slow delivery of mail

Government couriers faced brutal punishment, including imprisonment or whipping, if they failed to maintain strict travel speeds to deliver vital reports on time.

Fast transit between Moscow and Novgorod

Mail delivery was well-established by this era, with a letter between Moscow and Novgorod typically taking 3 days in transit.