Midsummer madness

June 25 sees Krakows annual midsummer celebrations near Wawel alongside the Wisła river, the centrepiece of which will be a live, free concert headlined by Wyclef Jean. The festival itself dates back to pagan times. The high point of the year is celebrated by lighting bonfires (Sobotka) along the riverbank, while unmarried women can predict the name of their future husband by floating wreaths of flowers (wianki) down the river. How thats supposed to work is anyones guess. Other traditions included seeking a flowering fern in the woods which only the truly virtuous may find, casting spells of protection over homes to keep away witches and evil spirits. Heavy drinking and free love were also part of some midsummer celebrations way back when, but are nowadays optional.