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Lajkonik Festival

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Classification Festivities
Festivals and Performances Lajkonik Festival
Festivals and Performances
(local)		 Lajkonik Festival
Zone Europe
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Summary Lajkonik Festival, one of Krakow’s most colorful traditions, has long been the city’s trademark festivals. Every year the playful, bearded fake Mongol rides his ornate hobbyhorse through the streets of the historic center of Krakow on the first Thursday after Corpus Christi feast day. Followed by a company of men clad in historical costumes and a raucous musical band, the Lajkonik halts their procession every now and again to perform his prancing dance. On his way to the Krakow central square the Lajkonik visits chosen shops and restaurants to collect a “ransom”, and he pretends to deliver blows to people near him with his mace, which allegedly brings good luck. People gather around him with small change to pay their “ransom”.
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