Russia Schools in Russia (and formerly the Soviet Union) historically begin on September 1. This exact date for the country was fixed by the Decree of the Council of the People's Commissars in 1935 and was established officially by the Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union No. 3018-X in 1980. In 1984, September 1 was officially declared to be the Knowledge Day. Nowadays, if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, most schools opt to begin actual lessons the following Monday. Traditionally, students have celebratory assembly and gift flower bouquets to teachers. Slovakia The first day of school in Slovakia is September 2, or the first Monday following if September 2 falls on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. September 1 is public holiday in Slovakia (Constitution Day). Slovenia The first day of school in Slovenia is September 1, or the first following working day if September 1 falls on Saturday or Sunday. The school year ends on June 24 (June 25 is national holiday). Ukraine In Ukraine the school year always starts on September 1, or the following Monday if September 1 happens to be a Saturday or Sunday. United Kingdom England, Wales & Northern Ireland The first day of school for state schools in England and Wales varies by local authority and sometimes by school, but it is nearly always during the first week of September, or occasionally in the second week. Scotland The school term in Scotland begins in mid- to late-August, more than a week earlier than in the rest of the UK. The precise date varies by local authority and sometimes by school. North America Canada In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, school years were highly irregular, especially in rural one-room schools and would vary from school to school. While the ideal was a September start, schools were often closed for weeks or months at a time due to lack of teachers, and with many school boards deliberately closing their schools during harvest (September) and the coldest weeks of the year (January) or for local or ethnic holidays that weren't recognized by the provincial authorities (for example Julian calendar Christmas and Easter in Ukrainian Canadian settlements). In all of those cases the school year had to start in the summer to make the mandatory number of hours. Standardization of the school year in most provinces was mostly completed by the end of the