June 03, 2020

Celebrating Russia's Graduates


Celebrating Russia's Graduates
This event involves quite a bit of fanfare. Image by Spbkinoforum via Wikimedia Commons

Every summer a unique celebration takes place in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the White Nights period – Alye Parusa ("Scarlet Sails"). This holiday takes place every year on the Saturday closest to the shortest night of the year. It is usually conducted sometime between June 18 and 25, although it never takes place on June 22 (the solemn anniversary of the Nazi invasion). This year, Alye Parusa will likely take place on June 20. The date is usually announced in March, but this year the date has not yet been confirmed. Regardless, the holiday always takes place after classes and exams have ended.

The history of this holiday traces back to the 1960s, when graduates themselves took the initiative for ensuring that the holiday took place. The first Alye Parusa occurred on June 27, 1968, from 11 pm - 2 am. Over 25,000 graduates participated, with viewers watching from the Palace Embankment, as well as bridges and Strelka Vasilievsky Island. The holiday was officially approved the following year.

The idea to call the event “Scarlet Sails” is attributed to the popularity of a 1960s film based on a fairy tale of the same name by Alexander Grin. The story was written in the 1920s and is about the dream that each of us can create a miracle for a loved one.

Unfortunately, after a decade, the tradition stopped, and it was only resumed again in 2005. It’s only possible to attend the show if you have a ticket, but anyone can watch from the banks of the Neva.

The event kicks off with a star-studded concert, which is then followed by a fantastic fireworks show. The evening culminates with a red-sailed ship processing along the Neva. An estimated one million people flock to St. Petersburg to celebrate Alye Parusa.

For those who want a front-row seat to the event, it’s advisable to get into place a few hours before it starts, not later than 5 pm. It’s also important to keep in mind that after 10 pm the crowd will be so dense that it would be practically impossible to leave. Moreover, cell services are likely to be disrupted, so you should plan on a meeting place with your group in advance. How these issues will be reflected in the time of COVID is not clear.

You Might Also Like

Alexander Grin
  • July 01, 2010

Alexander Grin

Alexander Grin (1880-1932) had a short life filled with misfortune. His literary output has never been thought to be "classic" but it is entertaining and has enjoyed a recent resurgence of popularity.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955