As the first school bell rings in SA this morning, we’re reminded that children, parents and teachers worldwide embrace unique traditions to mark the start of the school year.
From the bustling streets of Tokyo to the remote communities of the North Pole, these back-to-school customs celebrate the joy of learning and the promise of a fresh start.
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Here’s what the new academic year looks like across the globe
Japan:
Families visit Shinto shrines to pray for academic success, followed by ceremonies that set goals for the year ahead. The first day at school is also marked by ‘O-sooji’, in which students and teachers work together to clean the school buildings and grounds to set the tone for teamwork, responsibility and respect for their learning environment.
Finland:
The ‘First Day Walk’ sees children and parents stroll together to school, easing into routines with calmness and a traditional breakfast of rye bread, berries and milk.
United States:
Families enjoy the annual school supply shopping spree, gathering everything from notebooks to new first-day-of-school outfits and the latest gadgets in preparation for the year. Come day one of the new academic year, parents and caregivers will often be found taking back-to-school photos in front of the school or at home.
Mexico:
La Fiesta de Regreso a Clases (the Back to School Party) combines music, games, and piñatas filled with school supplies instead of treats, making the return to school a festive occasion for classmates and teachers to ease into academics and reconnect after the long summer break.
Brazil:
A special event called Dia do Estudante (Students Day) sees students receiving gifts of school supplies such, as backpacks, notebooks and pencils, and enjoying an array of fun activities, including games and music performances.
India:
The start of the new school year is marked with prayers and a worship ceremony called puja to invoke the blessings of the goddess of learning, Saraswati. Students would also be seen wearing new clothes and carrying flowers and sweets to school as an offering to the goddess.
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Germany:
First graders receive a Schultüte, a colourful cone-shaped bag filled with school supplies, treats and little gifts, from their parents, grandparents or godparents, symbolising good luck and adding an extra dose of excitement to make a sweet transition from home to school.
South Korea:
Families host a baekban feast, in which families gather together to dig into a large variety of dishes and encourage their kids to eat heartily. The feast acts as a means for caregivers to express their support for the students as they prepare for the new academic challenges ahead.
Turkey:
As kids return to school in September, special ceremonies with speeches, cheers and performances mark the beginning of the school year, celebrating the joy of learning by giving first graders their first batch of school books, symbolising the start of their educational journey.
Italy:
While the school year begins in early September, the back-to-school tradition of the ‘Feast of the Immaculate Conception’ takes place on 8 December. On this day, many families celebrate by attending church services followed by making special preparations, complete with treats and little gifts symbolising good luck and encouragement, for the return of school.
Russia:
The First Bell Ceremony on 1 September welcomes first graders with a symbolic bell ringing and celebration. Children, especially first-graders, wear their best school uniforms and are greeted with songs, dances and speeches by teachers, parents and older students. The day is marked by a first-grader ringing a bell to symbolise the start of their academic journey.
France:
The first of school is called La Rentrée, a serious day that emphasises organisation and style. Pupils return to school with a renewed focus on learning and armed with their finest notebooks and elegant new stationery – because, in France, everything is an art form.
North Pole:
In icy regions, small communities and research stations celebrate the return to school with a cosy breakfast of hot chocolate, pancakes and local specialities, paired with festive classroom decorations made by the children to commemorate the coming academic year.
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Picture: Supplied
