The Middle Ages
Day in the Life of a Serf
Their Everyday Experience
The serfs were not special but they were needed to keep the town from falling under. They were the people who would plant and harvest crops for the King. They planted wheat, barley, and rye and sometimes worked in village shops making shoes, tools, barrels, soap, furniture, bricks, and cooking utensils. Serfs remained poor their entire life and had no social advancement whatsoever. Some nobles even treated them like property.
Treatment
The serfs were treated very badly during this time period. Some of the serfs were even sold and tried to run away. When serfs did this they would be tracked down and brought back to work. Although these were only a few serfs that had problems a lot of them liked working on the manor because the lord provided them with shelter, food, and protection from gangs and armies.
Serf Homes
Serfs lived in simple homes with a dirt floor, thatched roof of straw, and walls that were made of wood, clay, or mud. Their huts had an open fireplace for cooking meals. Chimneys were rare so serfs homes would sometimes fill will smoke but they didn't mind because they thought the smoke drove out evil spirits. They had several wooden tables, benches, and cupboards. Very few of the serfs had beds so they slept on hay with their animals because that is what kept them warm at night.
Free Time
When they weren't tending to the land they were either going to church or it was a religious holiday. They were go to the festivals in the town and participate in the activities with every body else. Church was on Sundays so they never had to work that day. They also watched rooster fights and got together on some evenings and had a get together.
Medieval Europe: Serfs