Krakow during the holidays

Here are a couple Christmas traditions in Krakow: the three kings and "szopki krakowskie". Three Kings Day was January 6th, so we went to see the procession of the three kings that culminated on the square. It was cold and the kings from Asia and Europe were behind schedule, but before we bowed out we did get to see the king from Africa make his way to the square to honor our Lord. (He's the guy in black-face dressed in blue -- that's how you know he's from Africa.)

We also got a chance this week to check out the "szopki", which are on display this month at the city museum on the square. "Szopki" are homemade nativity scenes. This is a big tradition in Krakow. Every year there's a competition and people enter their elaborate and colorful "krakowskie szopki" in the judging contest. In addition to the tradition biblical figures, there are often Krakowian elements to the models, like the Lajkonik, the Mariacki church, and the Wawel dragon, which JR enjoyed finding.