Knowledge Day

KNOWLEDGE (Russian: День Знаний ), often referred to simply as September 1, is traditionally the date in Russia and in many other former Soviet republics, the school year starts at the. It is particularly important for first-graders, who often participate in a ceremony that day. For the students of higher classes the classes begin to part a few days later. The 1st of September in the Russian-speaking world a date that is associated firmly with the beginning of the school year.

In the GDR, September 1st, or Monday was then when September 1st fell on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, also the country unified the beginning of the school year. For children starting school the beginning was mostly on Monday after September 1, as the weekend was previously used for the Back to School Celebration.