Rider in the parade. Photo courtesy of Filip Zvěřina.
Each spring, people in the Czech Republic celebrate many different events and holidays. One festival is so deeply rooted in the history and culture of the area that it was placed on the UNESCO heritage list and has been painted, photographed, and filmed to preserve its tradition. This yearly event is called the Ride of the Kings, and it is one of Czechia's many unique customs.
The Ride of the Kings is a folk celebration that has been held since the early 1800s in the country’s Moravian region. This event is held annually in several surrounding towns and villages, including Hluk, Kunovice, Skoronice, and Vlčnov. It is believed that this practice originated after the king of Bohemia defeated a Hungarian king in war, causing the latter to dress in a woman's kroj, a traditional Czech garb that you can read more about here, to not be recognized on his ride back home surrounded by guards.
The “king” of the parade. Photo courtesy of Filip Zvěřina.
This story plays a significant role in the way the Ride of the Kings is practiced today. The main event of the festival includes a procession of young men riding horses through town, protecting the “king” and chanting songs. Onlookers in the crowd will donate money to the riders for their performance. The “king” they guard is a boy from the town and is dressed in a regional Moravian kroj with a čepení that features long ribbons which obscure the face, hiding his identity.
Although the riders are all male, women also play an important role in the Ride of the Kings. The costumes for both the riders and the king are often prepared by them, as well as the elaborate paper ornaments that adorn the horses. The colors, patterns, and shapes that are used in these decorations can be specific to a village, and this knowledge is passed down through generations.
The festival concludes with music, dancing, and feasting. The young men who participate in the ride only do so once in their lives, making it a unique experience for not only the crowd but them as well. The Ride of the Kings is a distinct part of Czech heritage that is exciting to witness, whether as a tourist or a permanent resident.
Joža Uprka’s “King's Ride in Vlčnov.” Photo courtesy of Moravská galerie.
Written by Erin Schachtner.