Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking ceremony for Hunts Point Cooperative Market in New York City (1962)

Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod, turf-cutting, or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and businesspeople.

The actual shovel used during the groundbreaking is often a special ceremonial shovel, sometimes colored gold, meant to be saved for subsequent display and may be engraved. In other groundbreaking ceremonies, a bulldozer is used instead of a shovel to mark the first day of construction. In some groundbreaking ceremonies, the shovel and the bulldozer mark the first day of construction.[1][2] In other places, this ceremony can be replaced by a "laying of the first stone" event.

  1. ^ Wise, Jeremy (February 2018). "Officials break ground on Wiregrass Public Safety Center". Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  2. ^ "TSMC has started construction of its 5nm 'Fab 18' in Taiwan". HEXUS. January 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.