Childhood joys
Even though it’s no longer a staple of my winters as an adult, as a child my winter essential was my pink snow saucer. I was lucky enough to live in a city with loads of hills – and I am lucky to have a dad who’d go with me to the city’s top sledding spots, no matter the weather (and sometimes we even managed to convince mom to join us – she was usually the serious one in our trio).
Much less scary for me than ice skating, sledding on a snow saucer brings plenty of risks to be covered in snow from head to toe, with snow getting into your boots and soaking through your festive (knit by the serious mom) mittens. This means you usually come prepared: wearing those pants that swish when you walk and a giant puffer jacket, while your dad is carrying spare mittens for the walk home. In St. Petersburg, you can experience something similar at the giant slide on Palace Square – or spot kids sledding at Yusupov Garden, once the city is finally covered in snow again. – Catherine
Read also:
Spa, Russian-style
My winter experience isn’t complete without a visit to the banya: it’s been in my routine since childhood, so I nearly forgot how special it actually is! For me, it’s about a perfect balance – ending a frosty day in a hot, steamy room, shifting from activity to relaxation. So far, I’ve visited only a few public banyas in St. Petersburg, with Mytninskye being my favorite: they are budget-friendly yet very clean.
However, nothing compares to the home banyas, where just a few steps separate you from a house, giving you the opportunity to jump into a mound of snow after the bath. Regardless of the experience you’ll opt for, my advice is to bring an oak or birch broom with you – it makes half of the proper bathing atmosphere. – Elizaveta
Self-care must-haves
Credit: Artem Saranin (@arts) via Pexels
I feel like every season is very different and you can’t help but make certain adjustments for each one. And winter is a time of the year that requires most preparation. Among my must-haves for the colder season are a bunch of moisturizers, without which my skin gets dry, as well as various bath products like scrubs and salts. There’s nothing like a hot shower or a bath on a cold winter day!
Another essential adjustment I make is adding as many light sources at home as possible. If the sun is not willing to shine after 4 pm, then a variety of string lights and lamps will have to do its job instead. – Kseniia
Read also:
A fashion statement
Despite its southern origins, a keffiyeh is something that I always have on me in winter. Often referred to as an “arafatka” (after the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat), in Russia it’s mostly used as a neckpiece rather than headwear, and was once seen as a symbol of non-conformism and anti-globalism in the local punk culture.
Very popular among hikers, a keffiyeh is a truly multipurpose thing, doubling as a tablecloth/container/rope/bandage/you name it, when necessary, and as winter citywear, it really bests a common scarf thanks to being more compact and having better insulation properties. Not only is it great at protecting your face and neck against the cold wind outside, it also doesn’t make you too hot and sweaty inside, especially on the subway. Truth be told, there’s just one type of neckpiece that I like better – a Cambodian krama – but those are almost impossible to come by in St. Petersburg, while you can easily order a keffiyeh online and get it the very next day. Just be sure to take the classical cotton one – only it works as I’ve described above. – Vasilii
