Lajkonik

To commemorate Poland's victory over the Tatars, in 1241, the Lajkonik Parade is held each Spring in the Market Place of Krakow, Poland.

A disguised Tatar warrior with a hobbyhorse fastened to the waist, called Lajkonik (lie-KOH-neek), in Polish, prances around chasing people with his mace celebrating the occasion with dancing and merrymaking. It is said that if he touches you with his mace, it brings good luck throughout the year!