7 Bizarre Ways Our Ancestors Kept From Freezing

ancestors couple-bundled-up

blankets

5. Night clothes beyond pajamas.

Their night clothes were often heavyweight combinations of wool and thick, cotton flannel.

family-snuggling-in-bed

6. Snuggling

Families often slept together in the same bed.

When all else fails, the body heat from a loved one or even a stranger can keep you warm. Imagine being without the proper clothing or layers to keep yourself warm. If it's between getting hypothermia or snuggling with a stranger, I think I can bet on which one you will do to stay alive.

After the break, there's another technique that our ancestors swore by that I had never heard of before. This is something we can still try today and it actually is quite effective for warmth! 

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6 Comments

  1. Charlie Goldbin said:

    1. The “grate.” Homeowners would cut a hole between the first and second floor and insert a grate that would allow the hot air from below to rise into the second floor.
    2. The “nightcap.” If you’ve ever slept in a cold tent during winter, then you know the need for a “nightcap.” This was a head covering that could be a knitted cap or, in Artic climates, a fur cap.
    3. Layers on layers of insulation. Layering is a common concept for anyone in winter, and layers of sheets, blankets and quilts made a sleeping arrangement warm and warmer.
    4. Sleep with the dog. The shared body heat from a pet can help.
    5. Night clothes beyond pajamas. Their night clothes were often heavyweight combinations of wool and thick, cotton flannel.
    6. Snuggling. Families often slept together in the same bed.
    7. Hot iron. Hot pieces of iron were sometimes heated on the top of a wood-burning stove or in a fireplace and then placed into a metal bucket. The bucket was then brought to the bedroom and placed on the floor or even under the bed. The radiant heat from the hot iron lasted for hours.
    #savedyouaclick

  2. Lance Nichols said:

    Fairbanks Alaska when it used to get – 60 degrees then used to take to snow in the yard and bank the house with it to add another layer of insulation

  3. Gunther Techson said:

    In Scandinavia I know 3 things:
    1. Echo the wool pajamas with a flap for the bum 🙂
    2. Central chimney layout w/ room furnaces (small tile stoves sharing exhaust), even if just for luxury cozyness
    3. Attic covered in insulation sheets, anything else goes on top of that

    In China I know an ancient method: stone beds. Light a fire under them in the evening and the stone would hold the heat. Obviously they had a vent for the smoke, but it’s not an inconceivable alternative to the Hot Iron, a bed warmer, or a water bottle in a sleeping bag, or similar.

    And oh yeah, I just came up with another one.
    1. Temp rated sleeping bags 🙂 haha

  4. Melony Tallarek said:

    Bizarre???? Even with a forced air furnace we have done all of these “bizarre” ways to keep warm on frigid nights….well except the grate, we live in a ranch. Nothing new or old about winter.

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