Love might be blind, but society has always been aware of social classes. Throughout history, the upper classes, like nobles and emperors, often married to unite families and gain power. But for the common people, love and marriage were more flexible and sometimes chaotic. Let’s explore what love and marriage were like for peasants in the past.
In medieval times, there were no dating apps, so peasants had to meet in more traditional ways. Unlike the nobility, whose marriages were often arranged, peasants had to be creative in finding partners. One popular method was bobbing for apples. After the fall harvest, villagers would gather for festivals. During these celebrations, single women would try to grab apples from a bucket of water using only their mouths. Each apple had the name of an eligible bachelor. If a woman got her chosen apple on the first try, it was seen as a sign of a good match. Two tries meant the marriage might not be great, and three tries suggested the relationship was doomed.
If a couple decided to marry, they had more options than the nobility. Peasants often married in informal settings, like taverns or even on their farms. This casual approach made it hard to prove marriages, so in the early 1200s, the English church issued a rule to prevent misunderstandings about marriage.
From the 17th to 19th centuries in England, divorces were expensive and difficult for the lower classes. Instead, some men sold their wives at markets to avoid costly divorces. These auctions were often symbolic, with the woman’s new lover being the only bidder. This practice indicated the end of the original marriage and allowed the wife to keep her belongings.
The story of Diego Corantes Matos, a Spanish Robin Hood, is famous. Born a peasant, he became a bandit who stole from the rich to help the poor. Diego fell in love with Maria, the daughter of a cruel landowner. To be with her, he disguised himself as a nobleman. When discovered, Diego led a daring rescue to be with Maria, escaping into the mountains.
In the late 1300s, England faced hardships due to the Black Death and the Hundred Years’ War. This led to the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, where rebels expressed their anger towards the nobility. Many women participated in the revolt, with husband-and-wife teams fighting together.
In Tokugawa Japan, between the 17th and 19th centuries, men could easily end a marriage by writing a short divorce letter. Women, however, had to run away to a temple and become nuns to separate from their husbands.
While life was challenging for peasants, they had the freedom to marry for love, unlike the upper classes, who often had arranged marriages. Love and marriage customs have varied greatly throughout history, reflecting the social and cultural norms of the time.
Thanks for reading! What other marriage customs from history would you like to learn about? Let us know, and stay tuned for more fascinating history!
Imagine you are a peasant in medieval times. Create a short skit with your classmates where you participate in a village festival. Use the concept of bobbing for apples to find a match. Discuss how this method reflects the social norms of the time.
Write a diary entry from the perspective of a peasant who is about to get married informally. Describe your feelings, the setting, and the significance of your marriage compared to that of the nobility. Share your entry with the class.
Form two groups and debate the practice of wife auctions. One group will argue that it was a practical solution for peasants, while the other will discuss its ethical implications. Use historical evidence to support your arguments.
Research another notable love story from history, similar to Diego Corantes Matos and Maria. Present your findings to the class, highlighting how social class influenced their relationship.
Investigate the role of women in the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. Create a poster or presentation that showcases their contributions and how these actions challenged societal norms. Share your work with the class.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[Music] Love might be blind, but society is not. For as long as there have been civilizations, there have been social classes. Love and marriage for the upper classes have been pretty ritualized throughout history, with nobles, pharaohs, and emperors marrying to unite families and consolidate power. But for the common folk, things were a bit more fluid and messier. There were Spanish Robin Hoods wooing noblewomen, peasants, and couples fighting side by side in peasant revolts. Here’s what love and marriage were like for peasants.
[Music] Back in medieval times, there obviously weren’t any dating apps, so peasants had to meet the old-fashioned way. Since marriages were rarely arranged as they were for nobility, they sometimes had to get creative in finding their significant others. One of those ways was bobbing for apples. After the fall harvest, peasants across Europe would travel between villages, buying and selling crops, goods, and animals. They would also have little festivals to celebrate, and just like today, parties can be good places to meet someone. After the harvest, there were usually some leftover apples. Villagers would gather them up, fill a bucket with water, drop the apples in, and start bobbing. Single women would try to pluck the apples out of the buckets with their mouths, each apple having the name of an eligible bachelor written on it. The women took turns trying to snag the man of their dreams. If a maiden was able to get her chosen apple on the first try, it was a good sign that the match would be a good one. If it took her two tries, it meant the couple would marry, but it wouldn’t be a great marriage. If it took three tries, then the relationship was doomed from the start.
If the match was successful and the couple wanted to tie the knot, they had many more options than the nobility for doing so. Peasants often didn’t marry in formal settings, like churches; many did it at their local tavern or even at a friend’s house. There are stories of couples getting married in the middle of their farms. The problem with this informal nature of peasant marriage was that it made it tough to prove that two people were actually married. In the early 1200s, the English church tried to clear up some of this confusion by issuing a statute that said no man should place a ring on a young woman’s hand to avoid any misunderstandings about marriage.
During the 17th to 19th centuries in England, if a man was unhappy with his marriage, he might have been able to sell his wife to avoid a costly divorce. Divorces back then were nearly impossible for the lower classes due to the expensive court proceedings. Marriage in general became more expensive and formalized after The Marriage Act of 1753, which required a formal ceremony in a church. Instead, husbands would take their wives to the market and auction them off. There are many examples of wife auctions during this time. For instance, in 1820, Thomas McKenzie led his wife Mary to the market and sold her for just five shillings and a bottle of gin. Another man, Joseph Thompson, supposedly sold his wife in 1857, announcing to the crowd that she was a “snake” and letting potential buyers know to avoid “frolicsome women.” He also mentioned she was good at milking cows and could sing, selling her for 50 shillings.
The Poor Laws were passed in the 1830s to help address poverty, and workhouses were set up to house and provide jobs for the poor. However, these places were often horrible and abusive. There are stories that local commissioners running the workhouses would sometimes force husbands to sell their wives to reduce the number of mouths to feed. While this situation was indeed awful, some historians argue that women had a say in the matter and could benefit from it in certain ways. The auction was often symbolic, with usually just one bidder—the woman’s new lover. It also signaled that the original marriage had ended and that the wife could keep her belongings.
The love life of the Spanish Robin Hood, Diego Corantes Matos, has been noted in history. Born a peasant, he became one of the most notorious bandits in Spain, stealing from the rich and giving to poor communities. He had a brief five-year career, dying at the age of 23 after King Charles III offered a bounty for his capture. One of the most famous stories about Diego is his romance with a young woman named Maria, the daughter of a wealthy landowner known for his cruelty. Diego fell in love with Maria but had to disguise himself as a nobleman to see her. When Maria’s father discovered the deception, he forbade them from seeing each other and threatened Diego with imprisonment. Determined to be with Maria, Diego rallied local peasants and staged a daring rescue, confronting her father and escaping with her into the mountains.
During the late 1300s in England, many people were struggling due to the Black Death, which had decimated the population. The ongoing Hundred Years’ War with France drained government resources, leading to a food crisis. The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 broke out as rebels organized to express their anger towards the nobility. They started in Kent and Essex, freeing people from jail and raiding official offices, eventually reaching London. The Tower of London was broken into, and some high officials were eliminated. Although the revolt was eventually suppressed, it involved many women, with historical records showing husband-and-wife teams participating.
One notable figure was the priest John Ball, who advocated for equality and criticized the aristocracy. Rumors circulated about his personal life, suggesting he had a mysterious relationship. While we may not know the details, his story has inspired later works of fiction.
In Tokugawa Japan, between the 17th and 19th centuries, if a man wanted to end his marriage, he could simply write a short letter stating his intention to divorce, and that was it. The divorce letter, called “amiko dihan,” was straightforward and could be written even by those who couldn’t read or write. However, only men could initiate this process; women had to run away to a temple and become nuns to separate from their husbands.
The main takeaway from all of this is that while life was tough as a peasant, at least they had the freedom to marry for love. It can be lonely at the top, especially if your partner is chosen for you.
Thanks for watching! What other marriage customs from history would you like to learn about? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more interesting history!
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This version removes any inappropriate language and maintains a respectful tone throughout.
Love – A deep affection and care for someone or something, often forming the basis of relationships and bonds in society. – In medieval times, love was often expressed through poetry and songs that celebrated the virtues of knights and their devotion to their ladies.
Marriage – A legally or formally recognized union between two people, often seen as a foundation for family and social structure. – In ancient Rome, marriage was an important institution that helped to establish alliances between powerful families.
Peasants – Members of the lower social class in historical societies, often working the land and providing agricultural labor. – During the Middle Ages, peasants made up the majority of the population and worked on the estates of the nobility.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, and how they shape the present and future. – Understanding the history of the Industrial Revolution helps us see how technological advancements have transformed societies.
Social – Relating to society or its organization, including the interactions and relationships between individuals and groups. – Social changes during the Renaissance led to a greater emphasis on individual achievement and expression.
Classes – Groups of people within a society who share similar economic, social, or cultural characteristics. – The French Revolution was driven by tensions between the different social classes, particularly the nobility and the common people.
Weddings – Ceremonies marking the union of two people in marriage, often accompanied by cultural and religious traditions. – In Victorian England, weddings were elaborate events that reflected the social status of the families involved.
Divorce – The legal dissolution of a marriage, which can have significant social and economic implications. – In the early 20th century, divorce became more common as societal attitudes towards marriage and individual rights evolved.
Revolt – An uprising or rebellion against authority or government, often driven by social or political grievances. – The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was a major uprising in England that highlighted the discontent of the lower classes with feudal oppression.
Customs – Traditional practices and behaviors that are characteristic of a particular society or culture. – Many ancient customs, such as the celebration of harvest festivals, have been passed down through generations and are still observed today.
