The end of May is the traditional time to bid farewell to school. During these days, one of the most joyful and at the same time touching celebrations takes place – The Last Bell. It seems that the Last Bell has always been celebrated – it has become so firmly entrenched in school life and is associated with it. However, in reality, this holiday is not that old: it was first marked after the Great Patriotic War, and it only began to be held on a large scale in the 1970s. A predecessor of this holiday was organized by Peter I – in 1701 he organized a ball for graduates of the School of Mathematics and Navigation who received diplomas of maturity. Similar balls were also organized in other educational institutions. It turns out that the holiday was invented in two schools simultaneously! For the first time, the “last bell” rang on May 25, 1948, in Krasnodar and Moscow. The Krasnodar school No. 12 was headed by the honored teacher of the RSFSR, Fyodor Bryukhovetsky, a follower of the legendary Soviet teacher Anton Makarenko. In the difficult post-war times, he wanted to unite the students and decided to introduce a number of traditions in the school that later spread to other regions. Bryukhovetsky was also one of the initiators of the introduction of Knowledge Day on September 1. A similar idea – to unite students – occurred to the director of Moscow school No. 182, Georgy Aseev. He went through the Great Patriotic War, was awarded medals and orders, and headed the school at the age of 31, deciding immediately to establish new traditions: starting the school day with the national anthem, organizing exercises, school camps, and celebrating the “last bell”. Soon, the initiative of Moscow and Krasnodar was supported by other schools throughout the country. The official holiday was approved by the Ministry of Education of the USSR in the 1970s. The Last Bell is a unique celebration in Russia and the post-Soviet space. Although the end of school is celebrated worldwide, there is no exact equivalent of the Last Bell anywhere else. First of all, it is a ceremonial lineup – this is how the festive day begins. All graduates gather in the assembly hall, gymnasium, or on the playground in front of the school if the weather permits, and in their honor, congratulatory speeches are given by teachers, representatives of parent committees, regional leaders, and former graduates. In response, the students organize a small concert with songs and poems. Diplomas and certificates are also awarded to distinguished students during the lineup. During the lineup, another important tradition is observed, which has become the symbol of the holiday: one of the graduates places a first-grade girl on his shoulders and carries her past the rows of students while the girl rings a bell. This is where the name of the holiday comes from – The Last Bell. At the end of the lineup, graduates often release doves today. Previously, they released balloons into the air, but now this is not encouraged because it harms the environment and pollutes nature. Specially bred white doves are more suitable for this and symbolize not only peace but also hopes for the future. Traditionally, for the Last Bell, students dress in Soviet-style uniforms: girls wear brown dresses and white lace aprons, tie white ribbons in their hair, and boys wear dark trousers, jackets, and white shirts. Also, part of the traditional attire is the graduate’s sash. It comes in different colors, usually red or in the colors of the Russian flag, and it bears the inscription “Graduate” and the year of graduation. Students also often prepare wall newspapers for this day, recalling their school days in a humorous and nostalgic manner. Often, students organize a graduation waltz – this is a relatively new tradition of the Last Bell. Rehearsals begin right after the New Year, and all graduates or selected pairs can participate in the dance. The main action of the celebration remains unchanged: the graduate carries the first-grade girl on his shoulder who rings the big bell. Ahead lie exams and the graduation ball!