Presentation. 4th grade. The Day of Knowledge

The 1 st of September.

The Day of Knowledge

In Russian culture, education is put on a high pedestal, and the  Russian education system  reflects this each year on the country’s Day of Knowledge.

To Russia, the first day of school ceremonies are an essential part of keeping children interested and excited for each new year at school.

This holiday is especially unique to Russia’s culture, considering the fact that there’s no International Day of Knowledge (though other countries do have similarly themed holidays).

Every year on September 1st we celebrate

the ‘Knowledge Day’.

This day is celebrated in all parts of Russia.

The holiday originated in the USSR June 15, 1984.

This day we call often simply ‘September 1st’. It is always solemn and exciting especially for those

who go to school for the first time.

Most children go to school at seven.

They are preparing for this day one week before September 1st. They go to the stores with their mums or grandmas to buy a school uniform, work books, pens and other school supplies.

Children dress in their best outfits. Girls often have big beautiful white ribbons in their hair. Boys wear white shirts. On this day most students bring flowers to their teachers.

Usually teachers, parents, and their children gather at the school yard in a festive lineup in the morning. A head teacher congratulates students with the Knowledge Day first.

Special words, of course, for the first graders.

Students read poetry about school on this day.

There is a ‘first bell’ ceremony for children coming to school for the first time. Traditionally, a first grade girl holds a bell in her hands. She sits on a senior student’s shoulders and rings the bell.

After that children go to the classrooms with their teachers and give them flowers as a sign of respecting of them.

It’s not a studying day, it’s just a short day for all students.

Usually they have a formal class where a teacher tells something new and interesting for students. After that they go to the movie or to the theater, or to the park.

What is the Russian Day of Knowledge?

Simply put, the Day of Knowledge in Russia is  the first day of school .

In the past, Russia’s school year started at different times of the year. But in 1935, September 1 was permanently made the date when the school year

starts for all educational institutions

in the Soviet Union.

On Knowledge Day, Russian students advance to the next grade, and university students advance to the next level. Since the creation of Russia’s National Day of Knowledge, every country of  the CIS  starts the new school year on this day.

Did you know? 

September 1 st has marked the start of the new academic year for centuries (although it was not until 1935 that this date was made the official start of the academic year; before this, schools could follow their own timetable, which was especially useful for schools located in agricultural districts). In the times of Ancient Rus, September 1 st marked the beginning of the new year in all senses of the word: it was the start of a new calendar year, the start of a new academic year, and the start of a new harvesting year. It was only during the reign of Peter the Great that New Year was moved to January 1, in imitation of Europe. However, out of  practicality, Peter the Great did not move the beginning of the academic calendar to January, instead opting to keep September 1 st as the start of the school year.

Did you know?

  During the Soviet Union, the first lesson given on the Day of Knowledge was the ‘Lesson of Peace’. This was because the Day of Knowledge coincides with the Day of Peace, which falls on the very day that Germany invaded Poland and started World War II. In this lesson, teachers taught students about the dangers of imperialists and about the past struggles for world peace.

Alphabet is a science, but a bogyman for children!

(“Азбука – наука, а ребятам бука!”  )

  The roots of learning are bitter, but the fruits are sweet!

(“Корень ученья горек, да плод его сладок!”)

The first of September – a beautiful day in the calendar! (“Первое сентября – красный день календаря!” )