On Sunday 6 January, at noon, the Main Market Square fills with crowned heads flocking to pay homage to Baby Jesus and join the Cortege of the Three Wise Men to sing carols. A crowd of thousands, wearing paper crowns and led by a bearer of the Star of Bethlehem, walks from Matejko Square, the foot of Wawel Hill and Konfederacka Street to come together in a dazzling pageant and express their gratitude to the Lord. The spectacle recalling the pilgrimage of the Biblical Magi – Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar – to the manger in Bethlehem is now an indelible part of the festive season in Kraków and many other cities in Poland, with a total of 644 pageants held last year.
Every year, Kraków’s event brings together musicians, scout troops, schools, non-governmental organisations and private companies. It’s a pageant for everyone! According to Maciej Marchewicz from the Cortege of the Three Wise Men Foundation, “The phenomenon of the Cortege isn’t so much because of the growing number of places where it is held but because it engages parents, children, schools, cultural centres and congregations. The Cortege never goes against anyone but brings people together with its call to adore Baby Jesus, away in a manger.” (bf)
KONFEDERACKA STREET – DĘBNICKI MARKET SQUARE – DĘBNICKI BRIDGE – ZWIERZYNIECKA STREET – RETORYKA STREET – GARNCARSKA STREET – STUDENCKA STREET – SZEWSKA STREET – MAIN MARKET SQUARE 10:30am » Green cortege – Asian*
WAWEL HILL – GRODZKA STREET – MAIN MARKET SQUARE 11am » Red cortege – European*
MATEJKO SQUARE – FLORIAŃSKA STREET – MAIN MARKET SQUARE 11am » Blue cortege – African*
MAIN MARKET SQUARE noon » Nativity play and joint carolling*
