Jun
14
2012
Jun
14
2012
Jun
06
2013
Jun
06
2013
Jun
26
2014
Jun
26
2014
Have fun and be merry at Lajkonic Festival in Poland
Not yet published by Vanessa Boiser
Country: Poland 
The Experience
This country in the Northern part of Europe is famous for its seascape filled with majestic icebergs while stories of Vikings usually hound the shores. Its landscapes are accentuated with castles so handsome that makes anyone feel they transported back to medieval ages. Aside from these, there is more to Poland than meets the eye. Poland takes pride of its unique historical heritage enough to give its visitors an experience of a lifetime.
The city of Krakow has witnessed many historical overturns and the reason why the Lajkonik festival is held is one of it. Every Thursdays after Corpus Christi which usually falls within the first week of June, the city holds this very old traditional procession that traces back from 12th century. The festival is to commemorate and celebrate the triumph of Polish commoners against the troops of invader Genghis Khan by attacking their camps at night. The invaders perished at hands of the freedom-loving Polish as they took their invader’s treasures and clothing. To mark their victory, the valiant polish men wore the clothes then marched back to their city. They presented their loot to the mayor and rejoiced as he offered a toast. This historic event has been re-enacted to ever since and Lajkonik festival is born.
The city of Krakow has witnessed many historical overturns and the reason why the Lajkonik festival is held is one of it. Every Thursdays after Corpus Christi which usually falls within the first week of June, the city holds this very old traditional procession that traces back from 12th century. The festival is to commemorate and celebrate the triumph of Polish commoners against the troops of invader Genghis Khan by attacking their camps at night. The invaders perished at hands of the freedom-loving Polish as they took their invader’s treasures and clothing. To mark their victory, the valiant polish men wore the clothes then marched back to their city. They presented their loot to the mayor and rejoiced as he offered a toast. This historic event has been re-enacted to ever since and Lajkonik festival is born.
When to Go
The actual date of the festival relies after the celebration of Corpus Christi and it varies from year to year. If you plan to visit this fest, make sure to know the date of the Corpus Christi as its schedule is moveable but it usually occurs on the first week of June. Checking the official site of Poland will help you determine the specific date for the proceeding years. After this, make sure to book an international flight from your country to Krakow. You can also book your preferred accommodation prior to your flight to save yourself from the hustle. But if you are feeling adventurous ala “Lonely Planet”, you can trust the travel assistance in the Airport to give you the nitty-gritty of the streets of Krakow. Be wary though of suspicious personalities that will give you an offer which is too good to be true. When in Krakow, you can ride the bus, train or rent a taxi that will take you to Lajkonik.
Odds n' Ends
The festival is a very happy and colorful event. Any foreign visitor may be amused at first to find an oddly-costumed man wearing an outrageously designed hat riding his equally oddly-costumed horse. This rider and his band of musicians (dressed in colorful and odd costumes too) will act to rob or snatch foods or alcohol from the onlookers or locales. The procession will go on like this with musicals, singing, dancing and other forms merry making which makes it a very festive event. This will go on until they reach the mayor to offer them a toast making the crowd cheer. After the fest, the longest night starts as street party officially begins. Get ready to be swamped and served with the best Polish beer and vodka perfect to warm up for the chilly breeze.
Visitors who frequented this fest love the street dancing as they break a sweat to break a calorie or two. Of course, the locales definitely know that the “robbing” is part of the tradition and seeing how foreigners react to this is a little bit funny or amusing. You bet that if you are a newbie to this fest, you bet that you have to ride the bandwagon and have fun mingling with the pleasant locales.
Visitors who frequented this fest love the street dancing as they break a sweat to break a calorie or two. Of course, the locales definitely know that the “robbing” is part of the tradition and seeing how foreigners react to this is a little bit funny or amusing. You bet that if you are a newbie to this fest, you bet that you have to ride the bandwagon and have fun mingling with the pleasant locales.
More Experiences Nearby
- Get Locked into History at the Elmina Slave Castle
- As the door slammed shut, a wave of claustrophobia enveloped the thirty-two people crammed into a dingy cell at the Elmina Castle on the Ghanaian Gold Coast. The cells here are no bigger than an average closet, and the only light which can be seen from the inside is a small square of light at the door. Everything inside the cell was black and quiet except for the breathing of those people around me. A few moments later, the door swung open and my lungs breathed in fresh air with relief. The staggering moment came when our tour guide informed ...364 miles away.
- Catch a Bird's Eye View of the Rainforest in Kakum National Park
- My heart pounds as I look over the landscape. Taking the first step is key to one of the greatest experiences I'll have in Ghana, if I can just get over the height. One deep breathe in and I'm going for it. Stepping onto the first bridge feels like freedom in the sky. It's a shaky freedom for me but freedom nonetheless. Exploring Kakum National Park in central Ghana provides an exhilarating close look at African nature. At 40 meters high in some areas, taking a canopy tour over the Kakum rainforest feels like a walk in the clouds. North ...386 miles away.
Travel Insurance. Simple & Flexible.
Language Guides
Russian 
is one of the languages spoken in Poland. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
Discussion
Experienced this and have something to share? Experienced something like this somewhere else? Looking for advise or travel companions? Use this space to leave your mark. Our writers and editors are more than happy to help answer your questions.
