I think, therefore IB

In much of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, the start of the school year is not just another day on the calendar. September 1st is celebrated as the “Day of Knowledge”, a festive occasion marking the beginning of the academic year and a milestone in children’s lives.

The heart of the celebration is the First Bell ceremony. Families gather at schools, children arrive in their best clothes, and first-graders carry bouquets of flowers to present to their new teachers. The entire community comes together — parents, grandparents, teachers, and older pupils — to mark the moment when a new generation enters the school system.

A highlight of the day is the symbolic role of the oldest students in the school. They stand as mentors and guardians for the newcomers, welcoming the youngest pupils into their school family. In many schools, a beloved ritual unfolds: a senior student lifts a first-grader onto their shoulders while the child rings a small hand bell. This ringing of the “first bell” represents the start of the school journey and the promise of guidance, care, and learning ahead.

While September 1st is standard across Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and several Central Asian republics, other countries adapt the tradition to their own calendars. In Bulgaria, for example, schools open with a similar bell-ringing ceremony on 15 September. In Serbia, the school year also begins around 1 September, with local customs to welcome first-graders, though it is not formally called the Day of Knowledge. Despite these differences, the theme is shared: education is not only about textbooks, but also about community, continuity, and shared responsibility.

The atmosphere is festive but also deeply symbolic. For families, especially those sending their first child to school, it is an emotional milestone. For teachers, it is a renewal of purpose. And for the first-graders themselves, it is often the first taste of belonging to a wider community beyond their family.

It is also worth mentioning that in many of these countries, the school year is framed not just by the First Bell but also by the Last Bell. Held in late May, the Last Bell marks the end of the school year and, for graduating students, the close of their school journey. Just as the First Bell welcomes children into the world of learning, the Last Bell sends them forth — celebrated with songs, speeches, and, once again, the symbolic ringing of the bell. Together, these two ceremonies highlight the cultural significance of schooling as both a beginning and an ending, woven into the rhythm of community life.

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