Christmas Fair in the Main Market Square in Krakow and Christmas Traditions of the Lesser Poland Region

The end of the year, despite the cold, shorter days and bad weather, wraps everybody up in a truly magical aura. The holiday mood carries away everybody – Christmas carols and holiday songs are everywhere, the streets are lit by colourful lights, and unique traditions come back to life. The capital of the Lesser Poland does not stay behind, starting the holiday season with pomp of one of the biggest Christmas Fairs in the Krakow Main Market Square. What will enchant you in Krakow in the holiday season?

Christmas Fair in Krakow

You love Christmas atmosphere and you want to celebrate it long before 25^th December? Or maybe you are a bit like a Grinch, who is not very fond of Christmas? One thing is certain – if you visit Krakow between 24^th November 2024 and 1^st January 2025, you will change your mind or fall more deeply in love with this wonderful time of year. The traditional Christmas Fair makes the holiday mood become infectious!

Regional artisans and guests/exhibitors from Italy, Lithuania, Hungary, or Slovakia create a unique atmosphere of the event. Their original handicraft, traditional delicacies, mulled wine, wooden and fabric jewellery, pottery, linen and wool products, inspiring gifts, as well as numerous concerts, performances by choirs and folklore ensembles, the smell of Christmas trees and many, many other attractions will make you smile while walking between the stalls. There is a reason this event is the city’s showcase event recommended by guides, travel agencies, and even “The Times!”

Christmas in Krakow – Our Beautiful Traditions

As every other region in Poland, also Krakow and its surroundings have their unique traditions:

Apart from the aforementioned Christmas Fair, there is the special tradition of constructing Krakow nativity scenes originating from the 19^th The elaborate, richly decorated, handcrafted constructions full of characters often take the whole year to prepare, and they include references to local architecture, city symbols, or culture, and the competitions for the most beautiful nativity scenes have been organised since 1937! According to the tradition, the nativity scenes are presented to the public on the first December Thursday (on 7^th December 2023 this year) at the Adam Mickiewicz monument in the Main Market Square. If you cannot be there on the presentation day, you can see the nativity scenes at the post-competition exhibition in the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow.
Christmas trees are the undisputed most popular Christmas decoration – in Lesser Poland, they first appeared in the early 19^th century, however, in some households, you can still see the so-called podłaźniczka, i.e. beautifully decorated small tree or a the top of a spruce, fir, or pine hanging over the Christmas Eve’s dinner table. According to the tradition, it is supposed to bring farmers luck and good harvests. Frequently, it is accompanied by a rye or oat sheaf, and in proper Krakow households, a colourful decoration called spider is hung from the ceiling. Other decorations typical to Lesser Poland include the traditionally decorated glass balls called bańki in this part of the country.
When visiting Lesser Poland during Christmas time, you would do well to prepare for a visit by unexpected guests, as you may find carolsingers with a Turoń (a festive monstrosity in the form of a black, horned and shaggy animal) at your door!

An exquisite, traditional sour-rye soup on the Christmas Eve table, numerous legends, and Christmas tales, e.g. about the kings coming out of an enchanted chamber in the Wawel castle on the Christmas Eve’s night, laying a “nameday” wreath under the monument of the poet Adam Mickiewicz, gifts under the Christmas tree brought by the Santa Claus, an Angel, a Star, or the Baby Jesus (depending on the family traditions), live nativity scenes (especially the one in front of the Church of St Francis of Assisi), Christmas carol concerts, nativity plays – Lesser Poland will captivate everybody with the abundance of wonderful Christmas customs.

Do you want to feel the unique Christmas atmosphere? Visiting Krakow is the best way to do that!