View source for Lajkonik

{{Short description|Unofficial symbol of Kraków, Poland}}
[[File:Lajkonik fete 2019,3, Senatorska street, Kraków, Poland.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Lajkonik, dancing on Senatorska Street]]
The '''Lajkonik''' is one of the unofficial [[symbol]]s of the city of [[Kraków]], [[Poland]]. It is represented as a bearded man resembling a [[Tatars|Tatar]] in a characteristic pointed hat, dressed in [[Turco-Mongol tradition|Mongol]] attire, with a wooden horse around his waist ([[hobby horse]]). It is the subject of the Lajkonik Festival ({{langx|pl|Lajkoniki}}) that takes place each year on the first Thursday after the religious holiday of [[Corpus Christi (feast)|Corpus Christi]].
==Origin==
The origin of the Lajkonik is uncertain, but there are some common stories associated with its popularity. Some think that it originated in pre-Christian times when it was believed that in the spring the horse brought good luck and high crop yields.
Other stories are associated from the 13th century, when the city was attacked during the [[First Mongol invasion of Poland|Mongol invasion of Poland]]. One, likely counterfactual story, says that the people of Kraków successfully repelled the Tatar invasion. Because they killed one of the leaders, a Tatar [[Khan (title)|Khan]], the victorious defenders dressed up in the Khan’s clothing and triumphantly rode into the city.
Another version recalls that the Tatars arrived at the city gates at night in 1287, but chose not to attack the city until morning and instead camped along the [[Vistula]]. Some locals transporting wood on the river saw them and decided to play a joke on the city. They entered the city gates and dressed up like Tatars on horses trying to scare people into thinking the gates were breached. To the relief of the people of the city their true identity was soon discovered and the incident's popularity led the mayor to declare this to be an annual celebration.
==History==
"On Ash Wednesday, 10 March 1241, Tatars ravaged [[Sandomierz]] and crossed the Vistula to Kraków. The dukes of Sandomierz and [[Opole]] joined battle briefly before retreating. At [[Legnica]] the Silesian duke [[Henry II the Pious]], intercepted the invaders only to perish with his knights... The Tatars returned to ravage southern Poland again in 1259 and 1287 and the threat they posed dominated central and east European political and religious life for the next 200 years or so... In regional folklore the Tatar assumed the position of bogeyman, as the Kraków Corpus Christi "Lajkonik" procession colorfully reminds one"<ref>{{cite book|last=Abulafia |first=David |year=1999 |title=The New Cambridge Medieval History - Volume 5 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0-521-36289-X |page=760 }}</ref>
==Festival==
[[File:Michał Stachowicz, Obchód Lajkonika, 1818, MHK.jpg|thumb|Painting of the Lajkonik celebrations from 1818 by [[Michał Stachowicz]]]]
Whatever the origin, the city continues the tradition with a festival that has taken place every June for the past 700 years. The Lajkonik is a man dressed up as a warrior from the East. He rides a prancing white hobbyhorse through the city streets from the [[Premonstratensian]] (Norbertine) Convent in [[Zwierzyniec (district)|Zwierzyniec]] to the [[Main Market Square, Kraków|Main Market Square]]. People in traditional folklore dress accompany him while others are adorned in oriental garments and hold horsetail insignia in their hands. The procession winds its way through the historic streets of the city, followed by musicians, children, and revelers. On his way, the Lajkonik touches spectators with his golden [[Ceremonial mace|mace]] and collects money for the traditional ransom. Being touched by the Lajkonik's mace is believed to bring good luck.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.polishamericancenter.org/Lajkonik.html |title=Lajkonik |publisher=Polish American Center |accessdate=27 November 2012 }}</ref> At the Market Square, the mayor of the city awaits the Lajkonik with a pile of ransom money and a [[Chalice (cup)|chalice]] with which they make a toast to the wellbeing of Kraków and its inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.skyeuropeinflight.com/cl.asp?cl=225 |first=Dorota |last=Dziedzic |title=Krakow's myths, legends and history |publisher=Sky Blue |date=5 July 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515053416/http://www.skyeuropeinflight.com/cl.asp?cl=225 |archivedate=15 May 2006 |accessdate=27 November 2012 }}</ref> Music and dancing continues in front of the Old Tower Hall at the Main Square.
==Everyday==
Some Polish folk groups use the figure of the Lajkonik in their performances. The costume of the Lajkonik is worn also by street disguisers as a tourist attraction.<ref>{{cite book|title=Central Europe |publisher=Lonely Planet Publications |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-74104-301-3 |page=383 }}</ref> However, the true Lajkonik is only the one at the festival on the first Thursday after Corpus Christi.
[[File:BombardierNGT8-Siedzenia-POL, Kraków.jpg|thumb|Lajkonik-themed seats in a [[Bombardier Flexity Classic|Bombardier NGT6]] tram in Kraków.]]
There are numerous souvenirs and folk art items depicting the Lajkonik.
The Lajkonik is so popular that the name has become a trade name for numerous products sold in Poland and abroad, including hotels ([http://hotellajkonik.pl/]), snacks ([https://web.archive.org/web/20070629033106/http://www.lajkonik.pl/en]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.clevelandmemory.org/ebooks/polish/part01.html |last=Zielinski-Zak |first=Judith |title=Part 1 - The History and Culture of Poland |year=1976 |page=53 |publisher=Clevelandmemory.org |accessdate=27 November 2012 |archive-date=4 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204074202/http://clevelandmemory.org/ebooks/polish/part01.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Lajkonik is also the name of a brand of Polish [[snack]] manufacturers based in [[Skawina]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lajkonik.pl/|title=Lajkonik - Dobrze się spotkać!|website=Lajkonik|accessdate=11 September 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=53842978|title=Terms of Service Violation|website=www.bloomberg.com|accessdate=11 September 2018}}</ref>
Since 2012, seats in [[Transport in Kraków|public transport in Kraków]] are upholstered in a Lajkonik pattern.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pojechać na lajkoniku, czyli siedzenie z miejskim symbolem |url=https://regiony.rp.pl/z-regionow/art17688561-pojechac-na-lajkoniku-czyli-siedzenie-z-miejskim-symbolem |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=Rzeczpospolita |language=pl}}</ref>
==Lajkonik Polish dancing groups==
There are numerous [[folk dance]] groups in Poland named after Lajkonik. In the [[United States]], two groups based in [[Tucson]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lajkonik Polish Folk Ensemble |url=http://lajkoniktucson.com/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=lajkoniktucson.com}}</ref> and [[Chicago]] have also adopted the folk figure's name.  There is one dance ensemble in Western [[Sydney]] called Lajkonik.
==See also==
{{commons category|Lajkonik}}
*[[Symbols of Kraków]]
*[[Culture of Kraków]]
*[[Hejnał mariacki]]
*[[Wawel Castle]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060813135935/http://www.mhk.pl/english/tradycja_lajkonik.php Krakow Historical Museum - Lajkonik page], Retrieved on: 26 June 2007.
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928123719/http://www.culture-routes.lu/php/fo_index.php?lng=en&dest=bd_ar_det&id=00000252&PHPSESSID=84ceb32224858b0bd368c324c57fa6ea European Institute of Cultural Routes - Lajkonik page], Retrieved on: 26 June 2007.
*[http://www.krakow.pl/en/miasto/wizytowka/?id=tradycje.html Municipality of Krakow official "Traditions" page], Retrieved on: 26 June 2007.
[[Category:Culture in Kraków]]
[[Category:Festivals in Poland]]
[[Category:June observances]]
[[Category:Summer festivals]]
[[Category:Parades in Poland]]
[[Category:Holidays based on the date of Easter]]
[[Category:Horses in popular culture]]