The Traditions of Our Region
Lajkonik
Lajkonik (Polish name) - Folk Fun, which takes place in Krakow every year on the first Thursday after the Feast of Corpus Christi. The protagonist of fun - Hobby-Horse - the bearded rider traverses the traditional route from Zwierzyniec the Market Square in Cracow in the company band. The march takes about 2-3h.
Wreaths
Cultural event held every year on the boulevards in the bend of the Vistula, on the Wawel hill in Debniki. Despite appearances, this is not a tradition in Krakow, but Warsaw habit.
Originally it was celebrated as a pagan celebration of a religious nature - Midsummer Night. After so. Baptism Polish tradition is not stopped completely, but gradually became transformed: That up the night was also called the Solstice or Midsummer night - remained the outbreak and divination, letting wreaths, jumping through fire or smoking herbs.
Harvest Festival
Harvest is attributable to the first day of autumn, in September 23. Harvest collections are devoted to agriculture. During the harvest festival to thank God for the harvest, and asks for even more in subsequent years.
Handling the harvest festival begins with the wreath completely left in the field of cereals and plants and flowers. Wreaths in the shape of a crown or a large circle and called it "yield" because they embody the harvest. In addition to a wreath of the harvest festival participants bring gifts from the fruits of the earth, and bread baked from flour derived from the data sets. For wreath procession follows the other reapers are often dressed in costumes. The procession follows with a wreath to the church where a wreath is bless. After the blessing held feasts, dances and refreshments.
The biggest harvest festival takes place at Jasna Góra in Częstochowa.
Krakowiak
Krakowiak is a lively Polish folk dance from the region of Krakow, belongs to the Polish national dances in 2/4 time and a characteristic syncopated rhythm.