Most of us take for granted the importance of shoes. For the most part, shoes are for keeping our feet warm and clean and making fashion statements. For medieval folk, shoes, too, helped them to keep their feet warm and clean, but they also helped them to stop parasitic worms from entering their feet – especially in marshy lands. That said, the shoes weren’t exactly comfy.
Shoes were made of cloth, leather, or wood (known as clogs). We’re guessing the clogs weren’t exactly made for long-distance running. Of course, some medieval people were trying to make a fashion statement. It was quite commonplace for men to wear shoes with thin long, pointed tips. Except, these weren’t only uncomfortable, but many men developed bunions from wearing them.
Knives
If we came across someone who carried a knife on them, we’d be quite wary of them. In fact, we’d probably not want to come across them in a dark alley. But, back in the Middle Ages, we’d think nothing of it. We’d probably even be carrying knives on us too. Generally, people carried the shorter types with them as they could be used during hunting, leather-crafting, fishing, and upholstery work, making knives an especially useful tool.
Of course, these weren’t the same knives people carved meat or prepared meals with. Medieval folk used their own discretion and generally had longer knives to carve meat with. So, you wouldn’t have to worry about eating off of a knife that was used to craft leather.
Wigs & Animal Fat
Medieval folk were known for their oversized and extravagant wigs. We’ve also seen portraits of medieval folk wearing elaborate wigs. Designing such glamorous and elaborate wigs itself was no easy feat. Fortunately, wigmakers had a bit of help. To help them shape the wigs into these glamorous designs, wig makers used animal fat.
Though these noblemen and noblewomen would be rocking an awesome hairdo, their hair wouldn’t smell that pleasant. After all, you can’t really expect a wig shaped by animal fat to smell wonderful months later. A bad-smelling wig was the least of their problems. These wigs were also highly flammable, meaning one had to stay clear of open flames while rocking an elaborate wig.
Nosebags
Considering that people used to empty chamber pots onto walkways, it’s unsurprising that town centers had a particularly nasty stench. And, of course, not everyone could stomach the smell. If you belonged to a more fortunate social class, then, perhaps, you’d own a nosebag. While nosebags were generally used for horses in the modern period, back then, a nosebag was a canvas or leather bag that was filled with pleasant-smelling herbs and flowers.
Whenever you got to a particularly foul-smelling alley, you could just pop your head into your nosebag. It’s certainly a sign of the times that the only place you’re likely to find a nosebag in modern times is in a stable, around a horse’s snout.
The French Royalty Didn’t Cut Their Hair
Though wigs were all the rage back in the Middle Ages, this doesn’t mean that no one cared about natural hair. One group of people who cared a lot about their hair was the French royalty. In fact, in a life-or-death situation, the French valued their hair over their lives.
In 6th century Paris, two princes were kidnapped. The terms of their ransom were either for the queen consort to agree to cut their hair or to let them die with their tresses untouched. The queen chose the latter. One of the princes wasn’t having this. He escaped, cut his locks, and became a monk. This prince clearly valued his life over his hair but not everyone was ready to make the same deal.