14 Back-to-School Traditions That Have Disappeared
Back-to-school traditions once created excitement and comfort — but many have faded into memory.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
The rituals that once made the return to school feel like a landmark event have quietly disappeared, giving way to digital replacements and convenience-focused routines. From trapper keepers to Polaroids, these moments weren’t just about preparation — they were about community, creativity, and personal expression. As back-to-school season becomes more streamlined, it’s worth remembering the quirky, tactile ways we once marked the start of a new academic year.
1. Covering Textbooks with Brown Paper Bags
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Before school-issued covers or digital books, students had to protect their textbooks with brown grocery bags. It became a ritual, cutting, folding, and taping the bag just right, then doodling on it with gel pens or stickers. For some, it was the first creative project of the year.
2. Back-to-School Fashion Shows at the Mall
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Big department stores like JCPenney or Sears used to hold actual runway shows in August, featuring local kids modeling the latest fall fashions. Parents would bring the whole family and maybe get a coupon or two. It was less about the clothes and more about the community excitement.
3. Buying Lisa Frank Everything
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From folders and pencil cases to trapper keepers and stickers, Lisa Frank’s neon unicorns and rainbow dolphins were once an essential part of a new school year. Kids would beg their parents for just one more glittery item. Now, most school supplies are minimalist and brandless.
4. First-Day Polaroid on the Porch
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Long before smartphones, parents would line their kids up in brand-new outfits for a first-day photo snapped with a Polaroid. You had to hope no one blinked because you only had one shot. The blurry, slightly yellowed picture would end up taped to the fridge all year.
5. Writing Your Schedule in a Trapper Keeper
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Opening a fresh trapper keeper and carefully copying your schedule inside was a sacred act. There was something satisfying about the snap of Velcro and the clack of colored dividers. Today’s students tap open a schedule app and move on.
6. Visiting the School to Find Your Locker Before Day One
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It used to be normal to swing by school the week before classes to find your locker, memorize the combination, and maybe meet your locker buddy. You’d test the lock three times just to be sure. Now, most schools email your info or just assign it on the first day.
7. The “Back-to-School” Haircut at the Local Barber
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There was always that one week in late August when everyone hit up the same barber shop or salon for a fresh cut. You’d sit on the cracked leather chair while flipping through faded hairstyle books. These days, many kids skip the tradition or go to chain salons whenever it’s convenient.
8. Buying a Metal Lunchbox with Matching Thermos
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Kids in the ’70s and ’80s cherished their metal lunchboxes featuring Scooby-Doo, Star Wars, or Strawberry Shortcake. They’d clang around in your backpack and the thermos would always leak soup somehow. Plastic containers and paper bags have all but replaced this noisy ritual.
9. Shopping the Sears or JCPenney Back-to-School Catalog
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Families used to sit around the kitchen table with a fat paper catalog, circling must-haves and dreaming about corduroy pants and new backpacks. You’d mail in an order or visit the store with a dog-eared wishlist. Online shopping has made this slow, shared ritual obsolete.
10. Getting Supply Lists from the Local Newspaper
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You didn’t wait for an email or school website — parents clipped the back-to-school supply lists from the local paper and brought them to the store. Everyone in town had the same list shoved in their wallet or purse. Now, it’s all PDF attachments and digital portals.
11. Covering Notebooks in Stickers and Magazine Cut-Outs
91 Magazine from Unsplash
Back before custom notebook covers, kids would personalize theirs with layers of stickers, Lisa Frank cut-outs, or clippings from Teen Beat. It was a pre-Instagram version of showing off your personality. Teachers sometimes made you peel them off, but it was worth the risk.
12. Attending “Orientation Day” with Free Popsicles and Maps
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Many elementary and middle schools once hosted a casual orientation day where families could walk the halls, meet teachers, and eat a Bomb Pop in the cafeteria. It wasn’t official, but it made the first day feel less scary. These events have been phased out or moved online.
13. Lining Up by Grade for the First Bell
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Kids used to line up outside the school by grade level, backpacks sagging, waiting for that shrill first bell of the year. Teachers would walk down the line with clipboards, checking off names. Now students just wander inside or start the year on a Google Meet.
14. Getting a Handwritten Welcome Letter from Your Teacher
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There was something special about getting a letter in the mail from your new teacher a week before school. It was always on colored paper and full of excitement, stickers, and a list of fun facts. Today’s welcome notes are usually emails with links and classroom codes.