• Join Chef Success Today! Get support for your Pampered Chef business today! Increase your sales right now! Download 1000s of files and images, view thousands of Pampered Chef support threads! Totally Free!

What are some interesting facts about daily life in the 1500s?

In summary, the 1500s were a time when people did things differently than they do now. They washed their hands differently, married in June, ate mostly vegetables, and lead was poisoning people.
colegrovet
Gold Member
998
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:


Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June... However, since they were starting to smell . .. . brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.


Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the
babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water!"

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip an d fall off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt.. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance-way. Hence: a thresh hold.

(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire.. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme: Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old.

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.


They used to use urine to tan animal skins, so families used to all pee in a pot & then once a day it was taken & sold to the tannery.......if you had to do this to survive you were "Piss Poor"
But worse than that were the really poor folk who couldn't even afford to buy a pot...........they "didn't have a pot to piss in" & were the lowest of the low


Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust.

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus,someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a dead ringer...

And that's the truth...Now, whoever said History was boring ! ! !
 
Oh my... I am getting a kick out of these!

Hey, Terry, any idea where "getting a kick out of..." originated from? ;)
 
  • Thread starter
  • #3
LOL... I have no clue.... :)
 
Something to look into for next time ;)
 
very interesting. Keep them coming!
 
Actually, I wouldn't they aren't factual...I'd retype all the stuff but this has been going around the internet for YEARS!!!! (At least a decade but I remember it before then).Go here:
snopes.com: Life in the 1500sI prefer to teach my kids real history. I always say the problem with the internet is that there is no fiction/non-fiction section. People aren't always good at deciphering what is true/false and rumors spread fast on the internet.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #7
Janet,

I know it's not factual.... but it does create a good laugh.. :)
 
Well, many readers will think it is when it says:Here are a few facts from the 1500s...Maybe it should be labeled humor, or prefaced with "the circulated on the internet but isn't true but read for your pleasure"I just think it kind of diminishes the value of those things that are presented and intended as truth to learn.
 
Whoa - Debbie Downer - Wah wah...
 
  • #11
Maragib said:
Whoa - Debbie Downer - Wah wah...

No, just being factual. If you've been on here for years and not new, you would know me very well and know that is not me.

What is more of an insult is the fact that we have someone who daily for years puts his heart and soul into giving us educational facts and then there tries to be "competition".

I'm all for jokes and humor...I love humor, those here even know I'm quite the sarcastic one. But I believe you should represent it properly as fact or fiction not lead someone to believe it is fact when it is not.
 
  • #12
I'm all for jokes and humor, too. However, I think it's important to remember that people tend to believe what they read here. "Humor" labels and "Adult Content" labels are definitely appreciated.
 
  • #13
well ok so much for my afternoon chuckle....

perhaps all such posts should be prefaced with "caveat lector" (reader beware)!
 
  • #14
even it if it isn't factual it still is pretty funny to read! and you know i have heard some of these in my history class, my teacher would throw in a 'fun fact' (which we knew to be fake but just fun to hear) just to get a laugh out of his students! and it worked.
 
  • #15
You know what....who's to say something ISN'T true?
Snopes.com is just a site run by a couple of human beings...not a company of researchers or something. I don't have the details in front of me, but apparently, it was started by a husband/wife team who wanted to find out the truth behind these emails that go around/myths/rumors, etc. Who knows how long some of those phrases have been around- and without accurate records, it very well could have come from some of the things mentioned. You just never know.
 
  • #16
Actually - Snopes.com has had several of their own facts dispelled as being not so factual or partial truths.
It is like EVERYTHING else in this world written by any human, you gotta take it with a grain of salt. "Believe it, or not".
 

Related to What are some interesting facts about daily life in the 1500s?

1. What is "So That's How It Got Started.."?

"So That's How It Got Started.." is a collection of recipes and stories from Pampered Chef consultants and customers. It showcases the unique and inspiring ways that people have used Pampered Chef products to create delicious meals and build connections in the kitchen.

2. Who contributed to "So That's How It Got Started.."?

The stories and recipes in "So That's How It Got Started.." were contributed by Pampered Chef consultants and customers from all over the world. They come from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, but all share a love for cooking and using Pampered Chef products.

3. Can I purchase "So That's How It Got Started.."?

Yes, "So That's How It Got Started.." is available for purchase through the Pampered Chef website or through a Pampered Chef consultant. It makes a great gift for anyone who loves cooking or is interested in learning more about Pampered Chef products.

4. Are the recipes in "So That's How It Got Started.." easy to make?

Yes, the recipes in "So That's How It Got Started.." are designed to be simple and accessible for all levels of cooking experience. They use common ingredients and Pampered Chef products to create delicious and impressive dishes that anyone can make.

5. Is "So That's How It Got Started.." only for Pampered Chef consultants?

No, "So That's How It Got Started.." is for anyone who loves cooking and wants to learn more about Pampered Chef products. Whether you're a consultant, customer, or just a fan of great food, you'll find something to enjoy in this book.

Similar Pampered Chef Threads

  • krzymomof4
  • General Chat
Replies
2
Views
1K
jbachen
  • raebates
  • General Chat
Replies
13
Views
2K
raebates
  • wadesgirl
  • General Chat
Replies
6
Views
1K
Liquid Sky
  • The_Kitchen_Guy
  • General Chat
Replies
2
Views
1K
Admin Greg
  • ChefBeckyD
  • General Chat
2 3
Replies
100
Views
8K
susanr613
Replies
2
Views
4K
Admin Greg
Replies
20
Views
2K
ChefKelebel
Replies
5
Views
2K
sfdavis918
  • susanr613
  • General Chat
Replies
2
Views
851
Crystal Patton
  • rkcreations
  • General Chat
Replies
5
Views
1K
The_Kitchen_Guy
Back
Top