Lajkonik
The privilege of organizing the Lajkonik Pageant, otherwise Konik Zwierzyniecki, it fell to the masons from Zwierzyniec. Every year, on the Corpus Christi octave from the courtyard of the Norbertine convent, one of the masons dressed in a Lajkonik costume, surrounded by the so-called. clicks (musicians) and all the rest of the noisy entourage. Lajkonika route, which requires approx. 6 time., leads ul. Kosciuszko, Zwierzyniecka, to the Philharmonic, further Franciszkańska, through All Saints Square, Grodzka to the Main Square. Here, Lajkonik receives a symbolic tribute from the fathers of the city and drinks a cup of wine. Then he performs an effective dance with the banner, zwany the Cité. He also plays with the audience and passers-by, striking them harmlessly with their mace, to keep them happy. The organizer of this performance is the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow, which annually lends the valuable Lajkonik costume designed by 1904 r. by Stanisław Wyspiański.
The tradition of Konik Zwierzyniecki dates back to the time of the Tatar invasion in 1287 r. When the Tatars besieged Krakow, among the defenders, there were spears, that is, representatives of the old guild of Zwierzyniec, engaged in fishing and rafting. The Włóczków killed the Tatar khan and thanks to this the invaders withdrew from the siege. In honor of the victory, the yarn chief dressed up in a khan's outfit and rode triumphantly into the city. Since then, the Lajkonik parade has become a landmark, even the flagship annual festival for Krakow.