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Krakow Travel guide

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Cracow was mentioned for the first time in a report of Ibrahim-Ibn-Jakub, a merchant from Cordoba, in the year 985. He describes a rich city on the crossing of trade routes, which was surrounded by forests.
Archaeological findings provide evidence that the Wawel Hill was settled as far back as the early Stone Age. The Mounds of Krakus and Wanda, legendary rulers of the settlement inhabited by the Slavonic tribe of Wislanie, probably date back to the 7th century.

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Annually, every first Thursday following Corpus Christi day a large crowd of people gathers in the Premonstratensian monastery yard in the Zwierzyniec district. Some men are dressed in the traditional Cracovian folklore dress while others adorn oriental garments a hold horse - tail insignia in their hands. A musical troupe called "The Mlaskoty" stands close by playing drums, flute bugle, clarinet, fiddle, and double bass. The "Lajkonik" enters the yard while the troupe plays loud and high-pitched music. The hero of the festivity - Lajkonik- rides a hobby - horse with peacock feathers attached to its head and in Tartar disguise through the streets of Cracow. This magnificent costume is an extremely accurate copy of the dress designed by Stanis³aw Wyspiañski in 1904. After paying a courteous visit at the Premonstratensian monastery and parish priest the Lajkonik leads the pageant trough the Cracow streets: Ko¢ciuszki, Zwierzyniecka, Franciszkañska, and Grodzka to the Main Market. This procession lasts about 2-3 hours. At 6 p.m., in front of the Old Tower Hall on the Main Market the Lajkonik with the colours flying and music blasting dances and prances merrily around. Usually dinner at the Hawe³ka Restaurant ends the festivities.

A type of outdoor fair and market taking place on Tuesday after Easter in the vicinity of the Benedictine church on top of the Lasota Hill in Podg�rze. Today this festivity is usually limited to stands selling gingerbread, sweets, cheap souvenirs and toys with some shooting galleries and a fun fair. In the past it was different. According to the 1475 Hetman Volumes, Stanis³aw Sarnicki describes the ancient tradition of planting trees around the grave of Rêkawka, bonfires and fencing contains. The name "Rêkawka" quite probably derives from the world "rêkaw" meaning sleeve -as in sleeves people carried the soil to the grave of Krakus.
The festivities were transferred from the foot of the Krakus Mound after Cracow was annexed by Austria. During the old times, the poor were given food but Austrian authorities forbade this tradition in 1897. What remains is only the fair. On Easter Monday at the church of St. Salwator in Zwierzyniec St. Luke's gospel is read about the pupils of Emaus: "And behold, two of them travelled to the town called Emaus as far as 60 stadiums from Jerusalem. And between each other they talked of all matters that ever happened. Then it became, that while they were talking and asking each other did Jesus approach them and walk with them. Their eyes veiled so they could not recognize Him. [ "This church had been named Emaus for a long time in the past or more familiar "Hemaus". This festivity is an occasion for infinite crowds of Cracovians and visitors to arrive at the folk garden party and fair. Fair stands and stalls are set up along the whole length of the Ko¢ciuszko Street reaching the bridge over the Rudawa River. Hordes of passerbyes are soaked in water being poured at them. Easter Monday is called "Wet Monday". Since 1976, the Emaus festivity has been organized under the auspices of the Historical Museum of Cracow. Every year on St. John the Baptist's Day and Wanda's name-day (23rd and 24th June) the tradition of Wreaths is celebrated along the Vistula River banks at the foot of the Wawel Hill This festivity changed after the Second World War. However, the common elements are amateur and professional folklore group performances on a stage erected close to the Wawel Castle, floating lit wreaths on the Vistula River and fireworks display. Annually, this event gathers enormous numbers of Cracovians and guests between Wawel and the Dêbnicki Bridge. The genesis of this tradition is ancient and a sum of three customs: Sobtka (bonfires traditionally lit by country-folk on Midsummer Day, searching for the magic fern flower and in commemoration of Wanda - the legendary daughter of Krakus

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