Today, September 1, a new academic year began in Russia for students of schools, secondary specialized educational institutions and universities. The official state holiday Knowledge Day in our country was approved in 1984, but historians find it difficult to answer why exactly September 1. According to one version, in Russia until 1699, people began to go to school with the onset of the new calendar year: that is, on the first day of autumn. Despite the decree of Peter I on postponing the New Year to January 1, the school year in Russia has already began in September, and they did not reschedule it.

The editors of mger2020.ru have prepared the top 10 countries in which Knowledge Day is celebrated differently.

Great Britain

English children start school at the beginning of September, when they reach the age of five. Parents only have to choose whether their child will study in a public or private school. Both systems are based on the national curriculum, which each school adheres to.

Germany

In Germany, children go to school from the age of six or seven. In different cities, the school year begins differently (from late August to early September). According to the tradition that developed in the 19th century, on the first day, parents give a “school bag” to a first-grader, in which they put books, stationery, favorite toys and sweets.

Czech

In the Czech Republic, Knowledge Day is celebrated on September 1, and the age of those entering first grade is six years. Czech first-graders are not required to read or write. Czech first-graders only have to undergo an interview with a psychologist to determine whether the child is ready for school stress.

Africa

Today, not all African children receive even elementary education However, parents who decide to educate their child send him to school at the age of four. Before enrolling in first grade, children are subject to a kind of interview. It is considered successful if the African child knows the alphabet.

South Korea

In South Korea, the school year begins in March. Korean children enter first grade at the age of eight and also undergo an “interview”: if they successfully pass the entrance exam, the future student receives the right to study at any school; if the results are unimportant, he enters an educational institution at his place of residence.

Norway

In Norway, the school year begins at the end of April. Children go to first grade at the age of six. A feature of Norwegian schools is the absence of canteens and school meals in general: children bring lunch from home.

India

The academic year in India begins on June 1st. In addition, unlike Russia or Germany, Knowledge Day is not considered a holiday, so there are no ceremonial lines, no ceremonial uniforms, no tradition of flowers on this day in India.

Spain

In different Spanish cities, the start of the school year starts from September 1st to October 1st. This is associated with harvesting, in which children also take part.

America

In the USA, September 1 is not a holiday, and the school year in different schools may begin in August. Each school also has the right to determine the end of the school year itself - each educational district has its own start and end dates for the school year. In the United States, you can become a first-grader at either five or eight years old.

Iceland

For Icelandic schoolchildren, the school year begins in late August - early September. The academic year lasts 180 days. The primary school includes grades 1-7, where all subjects are taught by one teacher. The grading system in Iceland is also interesting: teachers can give grades from 0 to 10, the lowest satisfactory grade is 5 points

On the first of September, Knowledge Day, our city will be filled with smart children with bouquets of flowers. They will all rush to school for the ceremonial assembly and the first bell. Afterwards they will go to their classes for their first lesson. I wonder how and when is Knowledge Day celebrated in other countries?

For example, in African countries, schooling begins at a very early age. As a rule, at 4 years old children are already in first grade! But before becoming a full-fledged schoolchild, the child undergoes an interview at which the level of his knowledge and preparedness is assessed. If the child does not know the letters, then he is not accepted to school. To increase the child’s chances of entering school, he is sent to a preparatory school in advance. There are classes held there game form for children from three years old. Unfortunately, not all children receive education, since it is not compulsory in African countries.

Knowledge Day in South Korea is celebrated in March. Children enter school at age eight and take an entrance exam. Those who pass it better have the right to choose an educational institution at their discretion, while the rest - by assignment. That is why parents who want to send their child to an elite school actively study with him, starting from the age of 5-6 years.

In Germany, Knowledge Day is usually celebrated at the end of August and beginning of September. At the same time, there is an interesting tradition called the “first-grader’s bag.” Its essence is that for children going to school for the first time, parents collect a paper bag, filling it with various sweets, toys, and sometimes books!

The Japanese chose an interesting date to celebrate Knowledge Day. They celebrate it on April 1st. Children go to school for the first time at the age of six. From the first grade school curriculum There is a subject dedicated to the love of nature. It is noteworthy that this subject is taught on the street, where the teacher visually introduces children to natural phenomena and interesting facts.

In Great Britain, Knowledge Day is celebrated, like ours, at the beginning of September. Children enter school at the age of five. Classic British education involves education in boarding schools. This means that children leave the school premises only during the holidays. The rest of the time they live in special school dormitories, and only occasionally do their parents come to visit them.

In Norway, the school year begins at the end of April. Children go to first grade starting at the age of six. A peculiarity of Norwegian schools is the lack of canteens and school meals. Only the youngest are given yoghurt and juice, and even then not in all schools. The rest of the children take food with them from home. Traditionally, a student brings classic sandwiches, an apple and a pack of juice or iced tea from home.

Like here in the Czech Republic, Knowledge Day is celebrated on the first of September, and the age of those entering first grade is six years. At the same time, first-graders are not required to have any special knowledge or skills. It is not at all necessary to read and write - everything will be taught in elementary school. A conversation with a psychologist is mandatory, during which a conclusion will be made about the child’s emotional readiness for school stress.

An unusual date for us to start the school year was chosen in India. Children go to school on June 1st. Moreover, in India it is not customary to vigorously celebrate the Day of Knowledge: there are no bouquets of flowers, no music, no white bows. But from an early age, children are instilled with a love of work and handicrafts. In Indian schools there are special workshops with weaving looms, and each student must pass his “norm” of hand-woven fabric! Money from the sale of fabric goes to the needs of the school.

USA. In the USA, there is no single day, like ours, when all first-graders go to school together. The fact is that American schools are free to choose the day when to start the school year. However, according to the rules, they must meet within a certain period - open the school doors between mid-August and mid-September, and also work out the required 180 days of the school year. After all, each school (depending on the state and even on the district where the school is located) has its own rules and uniform There is no generally accepted standard of education in America. On average, classes start between 8-9 am. Grades are not given in primary school - this is considered unpedagogical. The national feature of the American school is the yellow school bus that takes students to classes.

Palestine The beginning of the school year, like ours, is the first of September. Although in another Arab country - Saudi Arabia Study begins only after the end of the month of Ramadan, that is, when Muslims finish fasting. Boys study separately from girls, so 6-year-old daughters are taken to school by their mothers, and their same-year-old boys are taken to school by their fathers. “Only at the university do both sexes study together: and even then, there are rows in front for boys, and in the back for girls, first-graders and their mothers have a kind of preparatory week. “It's the first week of school. Every day from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., mothers and their daughters go to school. While the children are getting to know each other, their mothers are told about their children’s school routine. And on the last day of this week there is a big celebration with competitions and games. The academic year in Palestinian schools lasts until July, and students study for 12 years, of which 7 years are primary school and plus another 5 years. Palestinian first-graders must go to school in uniform: up to grade 5, boys have blue shirts and black trousers, girls - a knee-length dress of the same color, after 5th grade - the color of boys' shirts changes to gray, and girls begin to wear trousers under their already green dress. They start covering their heads around 3rd grade.

Japan. Japanese first-graders go to school in early April. “Winter ends and cherry blossoms begin to bloom. Spring is coming in full force. On Knowledge Day, Japanese first-graders who are 6 years old find themselves in school for the first time - dressed up, excited, but without flowers and gifts for teachers, like ours. In addition, the first line in the assembly hall is held only for first-graders, not for older schoolchildren. On this day, children are greeted by school teachers, parents are told what their children need to buy for school, there are no lessons, and already in the first half of the day everyone goes home. Then the kids and their parents have a week to make all the preparations. But around the 8th, everyone without exception goes to school: both big and small. Primary school in Japan lasts 6 years, followed by 3 years of high school. This is where compulsory education ends. Anyone can study for three more years in high school. Total – 12 years. Despite the fact that first-graders write tests that are graded on a 100-point system, at the end of the year they receive a report card without grades - only with verbal comments from the teacher: “very good,” “good,” “try harder.” The word “bad” does not exist, so it is almost impossible to become a poor student in a Japanese school.

Hungary At the discretion of schools. The beginning of the school year can be either in the last days of August or in the first days of September. The school itself has the right to determine when the school year begins. The main condition that they must fulfill is that there must be 185 school days in the year, until the beginning of August next year. From the age of 5, everyone must go to kindergarten, where children are prepared for school. In kindergarten, children undergo a medical examination, and a psychologist works with them. It happens that a psychologist does not give a recommendation for school, then the start of school for the child is postponed for a year.”

Germany An interesting and quite old - from the beginning of the 19th century - tradition is associated with the first school day of a German first-grader: the so-called “school bag”. With this large, beautifully decorated bag made of thick paper, children, accompanied by their parents, come to school on their first day of school. And they definitely take their first school photos with it in their hands. An exciting moment for every child is opening their bag at school: what did mom and dad put in there? If filling the bag is the prerogative of the parents, then the children themselves are usually involved in making the “container” itself. They enthusiastically glue the bag together and paint it, showing all their imagination and artistic taste. There is no single start date for the school year. “Each land starts the school year differently. There is also no uniform school entry age for the whole of Germany. In Berlin, for example, it is 5 years and 8 months, in Baden-Württemberg - 5 years 11 months, and in Hamburg - 6 years 2 months.

India Indian children go to school very early - at 4 years old. And at three years old they begin to attend the so-called “playschool”, where they spend 2-3 hours, little by little preparing for school: they play, learn letters. Before enrollment in school, an interview is conducted with the child. They may ask what kind of animal is in the picture or what this or that letter is called. But this does not apply to all Indian children, since a significant part of them still remain without school education. The government is not yet able to provide school places for everyone, and many parents do not see the need for education or do not have the opportunity to do so: children here often start working very early, helping the family. As a result, there are millions of people in the country who cannot even read and write. “Education in public schools is free, but the quality is quite low. In good private schools, tuition can cost from $2,000 a year or more. Public school students wear a compulsory school uniform: girls wear long dresses, boys shorts and T-shirts. Indian first-graders begin their studies in April. Moreover, the exact start date of classes is determined by the school itself. At the same time, no holiday is organized at school; it is an ordinary day. But before going to school for the first time, parents can hold a solemn prayer and treat their child to sweets.

Austria There is a tradition in Austria: both students and parents come in national clothes on the first day of school. On this day, a service is also held in the church of the denomination of the community on whose territory the school is located. In some states of Austria (mainly adjacent to Germany) there is also a tradition of “school bags”. But, unlike the German ones, these bags are painted in their own color in each area. In Austria people start first grade at the age of 6. This year the school year begins in Vienna and Lower Austria on September 6, and in other regions on September 13.

Knowledge Day is traditionally celebrated on September 1st. Many people look forward to it, because it is a meeting with new friends, getting to know new interesting subjects. Others again sigh with bitterness, because summer, so colorful and cloudless, is ending, and new holidays are not soon. This date was established in 1980 according to a decree of the Presidium of the USSR Armed Forces. Since then, the Day of Knowledge has been celebrated annually on September 1st. For many years, children studied on this day, but over time, September 1 began to be celebrated only Classroom hour. Later, it was replaced by a lesson in peace, which should foster love for the Motherland and citizenship. There are no usual lessons on this day, but entertainment events often complement the day of knowledge.

September 1st has been solemnly celebrated since Soviet times. A mandatory action on this day is a festive lineup. This day was especially felt by those who were going to school for the first time. Previously, the Day of Knowledge did not have a name; it was talked about either on September 1, or the first bell. For a long time, on September 1, people prepared a festive uniform and a bouquet of flowers for their teacher.

Who celebrates the Day of Knowledge?

Every year, the Day of Knowledge is celebrated by teachers, educators, parents of schoolchildren, schoolchildren themselves, students and all those whose activities are related to pedagogy.

How is September 1st celebrated?

Every year, every morning on September 1st begins with the formation of children in the stadiums or at the entrance to the school. Schoolchildren, their parents, teachers and guests are invited to the ceremony. All the kids bring bouquets of flowers. Girls are given ceremonial bows, boys are given ties and bow ties. Some first graders carry with them Balloons. After the first bell, children present flowers to teachers and head en masse to their classrooms. The first interesting activity awaits them there. Some people visit cinemas, exhibitions, and museums on this day. Excursions are also organized on September 1st. While the amusement park is still open and the weather allows you to enjoy the summer weather, you can go there. Some schools organize various concert events on their own, where everyone can go. Neither secondary educational institutions nor universities are left without flowers and gifts.

September 1 in other countries

When it broke up Soviet Union, a number of countries that were previously members of it also continued to celebrate the Day of Knowledge on September 1. Such countries include Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan. The academic year here begins on the traditional date of September 1. In the United States, to this day there is no universal start date for the school year. Almost all states have their own laws - in some places classes begin in early July, in others in early August, and in others studies begin in September. Australian students pick up their school bags in February, while German students begin school in mid-October.

Nowadays, a bill has been created in the Russian Federation on a flexible schedule for the start of the school season. The reason for this decision is the different climatic zones across the vast territory of the country.

What do you give to a teacher on Knowledge Day?

Undoubtedly, the most popular gift on Knowledge Day is a bouquet of flowers. Young teachers are given light flowers, and mature women are given bouquets of rich colors.

Sweet gifts are relevant for those with a sweet tooth. A box of chocolates or chocolate can be complemented with a jar of coffee, champagne or tea. It is advisable to accompany such a gift with a beautiful card with wishes.
The symbol of the Day of Knowledge is a bell. Souvenirs with the silhouette of a bell are the best gift on the day of knowledge. You can also donate books on September 1st. It is best if this is reference literature.

The gift may depend on which teacher it is to be given to. For example, a geography teacher can be given a globe, for someone whose specialty is physical education, you should pick up a ball, dumbbells, and darts.

A laser pointer would be a pretty cool and unusual gift for a teacher on September 1st. He definitely does not expect such a gift from his students. So if you want to surprise your mentor, then give him just such a funny accessory. Plus, this item will be useful to any representative of this profession.

On Knowledge Day, you can give your teacher a cool personalized mug with his name and patronymic printed on it. An item like this could become his favorite accessory at his place of work. Every day the teacher will drink coffee or tea from this mug while checking his students' notebooks. We must not forget that such a gift must be ordered in advance, since it is personalized. Therefore, it will be a shame if the gift is not made on time.
A personalized flash drive is another fashionable and useful accessory. Previously, folders and boxes were needed to store documents. Today, teachers most often, even with extensive experience, use electronic documents.
If you give the teacher a cool gift from the whole class, then on the first day of classes you can give him a photo collage of your common photos. Such a gift will demonstrate that you love and appreciate the person. However, you need to start working on creating such a presentation in advance, because the process of creating a good collage can take a long time.

What to give to a student on Knowledge Day?

Surely many parents are at a loss about what to give their student on this day. Traditionally, September 1 gifts are given to children in order to encourage good study and exemplary behavior.
The most popular gifts are tablets and mobile phones. During breaks, students show off their devices to their classmates, but it is necessary to immediately clarify with the child that the device is not being purchased for games in class.

Another popular gift is computer accessories. Headphones, speakers, a gaming mouse, a webcam can make a student happy, especially since these things can be useful for some tasks at school. A nice and useful gift is a printer. Thanks to this technique, you can print documents, abstracts, and, in your free time, a beautiful family photo.
Make your child happy before the school year, buy him a certificate for the day of knowledge to go to the pool. Swimming relieves stress and relaxes you.
It is possible that the student does not yet have a beautiful backpack, then give a roomy and practical backpack for the Day of Knowledge.

At school, children usually pay attention to each other's stationery. And if one student gets a really cool pen, then many begin to envy him. Therefore, you can safely present your student with a set of cool stationery on Knowledge Day.

To make sure your child wakes up on time, give him an alarm clock with beautiful melodies. Of course, in every mobile phone There is an alarm clock, but it is the clock with the alarm clock that looks interesting and attractive.

How to celebrate Knowledge Day at home?

Knowledge Day is celebrated in almost every family where there is a child or teacher. Close relatives and friends are invited to the table. On this day we wish you success in your studies and efforts. Sweets are placed on the table. The evening ends depending on who the hero of the occasion is - an adult or a child. Adults can enjoy some recreational activities. However, one thing is obvious - both one and the other need to prepare for tomorrow and school, because the second of September is a working day, unless, of course, it falls on a weekend.

The beginning of the school year is different in all countries. Somewhere on Knowledge Day they give gifts to children, and somewhere to teachers. In some countries, the school year begins not in the fall, but in the spring. Let's compare?

In Russia The school year usually begins on September 1st, with a line, flowers, beautiful outfits and white bows. It may seem surprising, but in some countries they do not celebrate September 1st. And in other countries they don’t celebrate September 1st :)
Let's figure it out how they traditionally start the school year in different countries .

In Great Britain The school year begins "on or about" September 1st. Local governments may set the start date for the fall semester to be August 30-31 or September 3-4, even if it is midweek. The start date varies depending on local holidays. Children go to primary school, pre-preparatory school, at the age of 5, and in Northern Ireland - from 4 years. The first day of school is no different from the rest.

In Germany School begins at the end of August or the first weeks of September. The administration of the federal state independently establishes Knowledge Day every year. High school students organize a festive concert for first-graders, at which the kids receive flowers and gifts. A mandatory attribute for every first-grader in Germany is a gift “school bag” Schultüte. You can buy a bag in a store, but it is much more interesting to make and decorate it with your parents. The bag contains stationery, things needed for school and, of course, a sweet gift.

In Japan, the land of the rising sun, the year generally begins in April. At this time, sakura blossoms throughout the country. What could be more beautiful than starting school life at the moment when all nature is renewed! They go to first grade from the age of 6, after kindergarten. They come to a meeting on April 1, and a week later they start going to classes along with the whole school.

IN THE USA Each administrative district sets its own start date for the academic year and semester schedule. In some schools, school begins in August, in others - 1-2 days after Labor Day, which is celebrated on the first Monday of September. There are no classes on the first day of school. First-graders and their parents come to school to meet the teacher and class. Everything is very ordinary, without flowers or bows.

Studies in China begins, like ours, on September 1. And even their line follows all the rules - very smooth, “communist”. True, they give flowers not on September 1, but on Teacher’s Day. In China, schoolchildren start first grade at the age of 6. From this moment on, the Chinese schoolboy embarks on a thorny path to knowledge. Compared to Russian schoolchildren, Chinese students study 2-3 times more, and they rest only 2 times a year - in Chinese New Year and in summer, from July 15 to September 1. But such a system bears fruit: the average results of Shanghai schoolchildren are the highest in the world.

In the Netherlands the child goes to school the day after he turns 4 years old. And if this time falls during the holidays, then the “yuf” (teacher “yuffrau”) or “meister” (teacher) gives the child a tour of the school, and after the vacation he joins his peers. The first classes of a Dutch primary school (they are called “groups”) are very similar to our kindergarten: children play more, glue, sculpt, draw, only under the guidance of a teacher. The first day of school comes after 6 weeks of summer vacation, most often on a Monday in late August or early September. Moreover, in different regions of the country, school begins several weeks apart. This helps to slightly reduce traffic congestion and distribute the flow of vacationers during the holidays. The academic year begins with a general meeting and a speech by the director. Some Dutch schools have a tradition of giving out free ice cream to all students on this day.

What about South America? In Argentina They start studying at the age of 6-7 years. Primary school (premaria) is preceded by compulsory preparatory group kindergarten (preescolar). The school year begins, as in Russia, at the beginning of autumn, only for them it is in March! In private schools, students wear uniforms with the emblem of the school. But in public schools in Argentina, the uniform for schoolchildren is very practical and neat white coats, which are worn over their clothes.

Let's look at Africa. In South Africa, schooling begins at 5.5-6 years of age. The first day of school falls on the second or third Wednesday in January. There are 4 official languages ​​in South Africa, but teaching is conducted in English and Afrikaans (a type of Flemish). The first day of school is not a holiday at all, there is no first bell, flowers and parental tears. Sometimes an unusual environment only brings tears to the first-graders themselves. Schoolchildren immediately sit down at their desks and begin to study from the first day. But as our compatriots in South Africa say, despite the gloomy start, children quickly get involved and go to school with pleasure.

Perhaps the most unusual September 1st is in Russia, in Yamal. In order for first-graders to Yamalo-Nenets District could, like all Russian children, go to school, first the school teachers had to find them. Children of reindeer herders roam with their parents across the endless tundra. The location of a reindeer herding family can be difficult to determine because the family lives where the reindeer herd has led it. In search of fresh grass, deer move from pasture to pasture, and every two weeks the reindeer herders collect their chum and go to a new place. The little nomads are found and taken to boarding school by helicopter. They will return to their family only during the holidays, and again by helicopter.

We wish that the first of September always remains a holiday for you!

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