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School's out: Looking back at the Last Bell

The Last Bell ceremony is traditionally falls on May 25

Photo {{sliderIndex+1}} from 10

High school graduates celebrating Day of Farewell Bell marking the end of classes before final exams, 1986

© Alexander Bormotov/TASS

Secondary school graduates at the village of "Red October" state farm , 1978

© Alexander Ovchinnikov/TASS

Tenth graders showing their diplomas and certificates, 1977

© Alexander Ovchinnikov/TASS

A girl taking exam in literature at secondary school No. 123, Moscow, 1982

© Igor Utkin/TASS

Tenth graders at Moscow school No. 503, 1977

© Boris Kavashkin/TASS

School graduates after passing final exams, 1982

© Alexander Shogin/TASS

Secondary school graduates, Georgian SSR, 1984

© Givi Kikvadze/TASS

Secondary school graduates, 1983

© G.Yachmenev/TASS

First-grader Katya Petrushina announces the last call for graduates of Tula Secondary School №4, 1984

© Yuri Nabatov/TASS

High school grads on Moscow's Red Square, 1961

© Vladimir Lagrange/TASS

The Last Bell ceremony is traditionally held in Russian schools after classes end, but before the pressure of final exams. The date usually falls on May 25. The tradition includes the ceremonial ringing of "the Last Bell" by a first-grader. Students, who are about to graduate, wear the classic school uniform or formal dress. TASS strolls down memory lane to see how this was observed in the past.

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