Traditions of Saint Petersburg
A northern imperial capital of White Nights, Scarlet Sails and a tea table with pryaniki.
Saint Petersburg was built by Peter the Great in 1703 and was the capital for two centuries. Its summer White Nights, when it stays light almost until midnight, are marked by festivals, music and the Scarlet Sails celebration, in which a ship with red sails glides on the Neva. The city's tea tradition is rich.
White Nights and Scarlet Sails
Over several weeks around the solstice, the city holds the Stars of the White Nights festival with ballet, opera and concerts through the night, and the bridges are raised to let ships pass at 1 a.m. Graduates celebrate with Scarlet Sails, a night of fireworks and a procession of ships.
At the table
Pryaniki, spiced honey cakes, ponchiki, doughnuts, and smelt in spring are St Petersburg specialties. Rasstegai, open pies with fish, and Stroganoff, beef in sour cream, were developed for aristocratic tables. Tea is served with jam and lemon, and the famed Eliseev emporium sells pastries.
Signature traditions of Saint Petersburg
Also part of it, and being written: White Nights Festival (The summer festival.), Pryanik (The honey cake.), Beef Stroganov (The dish.).
A trail idea for Saint Petersburg
- Eliseevsky Emporium See the grand food hall.
- Nevsky Prospect Stroll.
- Hermitage See the winter palace.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Scarlet Sails: Kora27, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Sabantuy: Якупов Рамиль, CC BY 3.0, source