Incoming first-graders in China participate in the “First Writing Ceremonies” before starting elementary school to better their chances of a gainful education
In many parts of China, with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees, late August still feels like summer. However, not even the sweltering heat can delay one of the most important events for students across the country—the start of the new academic year, which typically falls on September 1.
For many incoming first-graders, especially in southern China, September 1 is not only symbolic but ceremonial, marked by the First Writing Ceremony (开笔礼, literally “Opening Brush Ceremony”). Also known as the “Enlightenment Ceremony (破蒙),” it is usually held a few days before school starts. Students don hanfu, the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group, and participate in activities such as worshiping Confucius or other ancient scholars and practicing calligraphy with a writing brush.
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