History of Knowledge Day
In ancient Judea, September 1 was celebrated as a harvest holiday, and it was on this day that Jesus Christ first addressed the people with a sermon.
On September 1, 312, Emperor Constantine , having converted to Christianity from his mother Helen , defeated his opponent Mauxentius , while a cross was depicted on the banner of Constantine’s army. After the victory, Christianity spread throughout the Byzantine Empire.
September 1, 1974. Photo: RIA Novosti / O. Ivanov
In Russia, at the end of 1699, Peter I issued a decree on celebrating the New Year from January 1 and introducing chronology according to the Western model - from the Nativity of Christ.
As for educational institutions, historically in Russia not all of them began the academic year on September 1. For example, during the time of Peter I, in some schools and gymnasiums, education began at the end of August, mid-September or October, while rural literacy schools began operating on December 1. However, most of the first schools were attached to churches, and therefore education in them began with the church new year - on September 1.
In the USSR, until the mid-30s of the 20th century, there was no exact date for the start of the school year. According to the resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of August 14, 1930, it was stated only that “all children aged 8–10 years were to be admitted to school in the fall.”
Only on September 3, 1935, by a decree of the Council of People's Commissars and the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, a single start of classes in all schools of the USSR was introduced from September 1, and the end was differentiated: in the first three grades - June 1, in grades 4–7 - June 10 and 8– 10th grade - June 20.
Officially, “Knowledge Day” was established on October 1, 1980 on the basis of Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR N 3018-X “On holidays and memorial days.” However, at that time it did not have the status of a public holiday; it was a regular school day. Although it began on September 1 with a ceremonial assembly, then regular lessons were held.
The Day of Knowledge became a holiday in 1984, on the basis of the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 01.10.80 No. 3018-X “On holidays and memorial days”, as amended by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated 01.11.88 No. 9724-XI “On making changes into the legislation of the USSR on holidays and memorial days." One of the creators of the holiday is considered to be Fedor Fedorovich Bryukhovetsky*.
Photo: RIA Novosti / Alexey Kudenko
