Culture and Daily Life

1. Culture and Daily Life

2. Superstitions • People used superstitions to cope with the world around them. • Life could take an unexpected turn. Including struggles with nature and things people could not control • To explain the unexplainable, people used superstitions. • God was a distant figure, so many events were explained as the work of spirits.

3. The World of Spirits • Nothing that happened was an accident • If a pitcher of milk spilled or if lightening struck the house, it was the work of a demon. • Even a mix of religion with spirits, priests would bless fields or marriages in order to bring good luck. • Each town had an elderly to go to known as a Wiseman or Wisewoman, who were especially intune with superstitions and the spirits.

4. Palm Reading

5. Palm Reading • Which hand to see?Traditional palmistry suggests that the left hand of women and the right hand of men are traditionally read. It is said thatthe left hand is a doorway to the natural persona of the person, whereas the right hand shows what he has done with his personality and talents. Of course, this is opposite for the left-handed person. • TextureThe texture of the hand is also a key to the persona of the person. This has to be observed for both, the back and front of the hand or palm. A soft textured hand shows sensitivity and refinement. A coarse textured hand will depict a coarse nature. Calluses will show that the person is either a hardworking person or has a job where he has to work with his hands a lot.

6. Palm Reading • FlexibilityThe flexibility of the hand shows the adjustable nature of the person. The more flexible the hand, the more adjusting his nature is. On the contrary, if the hand is stiff, the person has a rigid personality. People whose fingers can be very easily bent back (90 degrees to the palm) are pushovers.NailsThis is also an important aspect to consider in palm reading. The shape of the nails also gives us an insight into the personality traits of the person. Long nails which taper at the tips show creativity; while square nails show orderliness.ColorThe color of the hands shows the nature of blood circulation in the person's body. A pinkish colored hand, therefore, shows a healthy individual. Yellow denotes excessive bile production. Blue color shows a circulation problem.

7. Witchcraft • Ordinary people explained their problems to the Wise folk • These included things like a lost ring, a cruel husband, or a sick pig. • They would even report any unsual happenings. • The Wise folk would explain these events and give remedies to problems that included chanting spells, drinking potions, or wearing a good luck charm

8. Witchcraft • These ideas were a traditional part of witchcraft • Wise folk were often referred to as good witches • But if misfortune started to arise, some were accused of being bad witches • Bad witches were believed to have made a pact with the devil • In many cases, those accused of being bad witches were elderly woman without a husband or family.

9. Witchcraft • Stories of witchcraft became more sensational • A witch my be accused of flying on a broomstick, or dancing with the devil at night in the woods • Those accused and convicted of being a bad witch were burned at the stake, usually on the approval of the local lord.

10. Daily life • Working in the fields, but some found time for recreation and relaxation • Each village had a gathering place to drink, sew, or tell stories together • Games such as Skittles, Chess, Badminton, Dwyle Flunking, and hopscotch were played • Holidays and ceremonies were celebrated with village wide celebrations

11. Violence and Protest in the Village • Villagers lived in close-knit communites • Because of this, anyone who went against the traditions or customs of the village were treated badly. • Hardship or famine caused stress within communities and protesting became more common

12. Spread of Knowledge • Printing Press help speed up the spread of knowledge. Through the printed word. • Broadsides, which were single printed sheets were being sold to the townspeople that had royal decrees or latest news stories • Almanacs were books printed which contained a variety of information, including weather, calendars, and maps. • Many still could not read, but gathering together to listen to someone read was a popular activity

13. Changes in daily life • The economy • Standard of living - the measure of the quality of life • 85-95 percent of people were peasants • Diet • Meat, fish, salt, and white bread rare so eggs and cheese were a big part of the diet • Trade introduced spices and new vegetables into the European diet including green beans, spinach, lettuce, and asparagus

14. Changes in daily life • Housing • Brick and stone housing but peasants still lived in thatch roof houses • Even beds were still a thing for the rich, most slept on sacks filled with straw • Decline in Traditional Culture • To escape poverty, many moved into cities • More governmental help in times of need • Moved away from superstitions and sought rational explanations