White Nights Festival

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/white-nights-festival

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the symbolic event?The 'Scarlet Sails' event is a prominent maritime celebration often featuring fireworks
2. What are the White Nights Festival and why does it happen?The White Nights Festival is a big party in St. Petersburg, Russia, where the sun stays up all night because the city is far north, near the Arctic Circle. The Earth’s tilt makes the sun dip only a little below the horizon, creating bright twilight that lasts through the night.
3. When does the White Nights Festival take place?The festival runs from about late April to late August, with the brightest nights around the summer solstice when the sun stays up the longest.

Civil Twilight: The period when the sun is just below the horizon, providing enough light for most outdoor activities.
Axial Tilt: The angle between an object's rotational axis and its orbital axis, causing seasons and varying daylight.
Cultural Diplomacy: The exchange of ideas, information, art, and other aspects of culture among nations.