Scarlet Sails

What is Scarlet Sails?

Scarlet Sails is the most famous and massive event during the White Nights Festival in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The White Nights are all-night art-festivals around the world during the summer. The name of the event is given in the areas of high-latitude to the weeks during the solar solstice in June, when the sunsets are late and the sunrise are earlier.

The first White Nights Festival was held in Russia in the city of Saint Peretsberg, where during June suns doesnt set until 11 p.m. The feast consists of a series of classical ballet, opera and music events and includes performances by Russian dancers, singers, musicians and actors, as well as famous international guest stars. But all the amazing performances by the stars are overshadowed by the event at the end of the festival, called Scarlet Sails.

Everything started after the end of the Second World War when several Leningrads ( Saint Petersburg ) schools united to celebrate the end of the schools year. During the first celebration, a boat with scarlet sails sailed along the English Embankment and the Admiralty Embankment towards the Winter Palace. Scarlet Sails" tradition eventually evolved into a massive demonstration of freedom from "schools and rules" and has become the most popular public event annually celebrating the end of school year. 

The ideology of the event can be described by his motto "Россия. Страна возможностей" which means Russia, Land of possibilities . The motto can be interpret with the meaning that the city holds today a new generation of talented and promising young people, from who depends the future of the city and the nation.