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

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

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.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

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...

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, 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