Lajkonik Festival- A folklore celebration in Krakow

Come and be a part of Krakow’s folklore celebration in Lajkonik Festival which usually occurs on 1st June every year or the first Thursday after the Corpus Christi feast in Krakow, south Poland. This year the festival is held on 26th June. A man dressed as a Mongolia warrior stumbling around Krakow riding a fake horse is the main character of festival named after him. Nobody knows for sure about the origin of this festival but still there was a belief in pre-Christian Poland that in spring the horse brings good luck and rich harvest.

According to a Polish legend, when the head of Krakow’s defensive raftsman defeated a Tartar murderer in 13th century, he slipped into the Mongolian‘s robes and triumphantly rode into the city accompanied by the Mlaskoty musical troupe. Since then the folklore myth has been celebrated for more than 200 years with the procession of Lajkonic through the Gothic city. During the festival Lajkonic rides from the Premonstratensian Convent in the suburbs of Zwierzyniec to the main square where the mayor greets the Lajkonic and presents him with a symbolic ransom and goblet of wine.

En route, the energetic larrikin dances, jumps, greets passers-by, pops into cafes, collect donations and strike people with his mace. The procession follows the city is the longest night of the year Book flights to Krakow and you will surely enjoy the terrace bars spill onto the square and the underground cellar bars finally have all their lights on, makes it a truly spectacular event not to be missed.