Peasantry
For most peasants, life was harsh. They must work for land, housing, and protection. Men, women, and children worked long hours, from sunup to sundown. They must work for 7 times a week, and they hardly took breaks. Children helped plant seeds, weeded, and took care of pigs or sheep. The peasant family ate a simple diet of black bread with vegetable such as peas, cabbage, turnips, or onions. They seldom had meat unless they poached wild game risk of harsh punishment. If they lived near a river, a meal might include fish. At night, the family and any cows, chickens, pigs, or sheep slept together in their one-room hut. In spring and autumn, they plowed and harvested. In the summer, they hayed. At other times, they weeded, repaired fences, and performed other chores.During the Medieval period, they had very little time for fun. When they did have a few minutes, they played games like tag, kegeling (which was an early from of bowling), checkers and other board games. They also enjoyed story telling and singing. Religion was a major part of their life, because it gave them hope for a better future (after-life). Life was so hard for them that the only chance of a good life was in Heaven, Peasants worked long hours every day, rain or shine, to ensure that their families had enough to eat. Most peasants were farmers, although a few were millers, blacksmiths, and tavern owners. Peasant farmers were the backbone of medieval society. They worked land leased to them by wealthier land holders in the nobility. The farmers produced all of the food, and paid most of the taxes. Their lives weren't all hard work though. They had feasts on holidays, and celebrated births and marriages. They rested each Sabbath day and attended church. Peasants payed lords when the lords got married, or acres from his father, or goes to a local mill to grind grain. They didn't have money in Medieval Europe, instead they paid with fruits, vegetables, eggs etc.. Peasants didn't know about the larger world out there, they produced almost everything they needed, from food and clothing to simple furniture and tools.