groundbreaking ceremony / spade thrust
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groundbreaking ceremony
The ceremonial act with which the start of construction work for a new building or facility is officially celebrated.
Der Bürgermeister nahm am feierlichen Spatenstich für die neue Schule teil.
The mayor took part in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new school.
spade thrust
The literal action of thrusting a spade into the earth once.
Ein einziger Spatenstich genügte, um auf eine alte Wasserleitung zu stoßen.
A single thrust of the spade was enough to hit an old water pipe.
The word is made up of 'der Spaten' (spade, a gardening tool) and 'der Stich' (thrust/sting). The literal meaning is therefore a single thrust into the earth with a spade, from which the ceremonial meaning for the start of construction is derived.
Mit dem ersten Spatenstich beginnt nun der Bau der neuen Brücke.
With the first groundbreaking ceremony, construction of the new bridge now begins.
The ceremonial meaning is by far the most common. You can recognize it from words like 'feierlich' (ceremonial), 'offiziell' (official), 'Baubeginn' (start of construction), or the presence of politicians and journalists.
Die Presse war eingeladen, über den feierlichen Spatenstich zu berichten.
The press was invited to report on the ceremonial groundbreaking.
In the ceremonial context, 'Spatenstich' (groundbreaking ceremony) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical phrases are 'den Spatenstich machen' (to do the groundbreaking), 'den Spatenstich vornehmen' (to carry out the groundbreaking), or 'den Spatenstich vollziehen' (to perform the groundbreaking).
Der Minister vollzog persönlich den ersten Spatenstich für das Forschungsinstitut.
The minister personally performed the first groundbreaking ceremony for the research institute.
The 'Spatenstich' (groundbreaking ceremony) is an important public ceremony in Germany to mark the beginning of a construction project. It often serves as a photo opportunity for the media and symbolizes progress and investment.
Zum Spatenstich für die neue Fabrik reiste sogar die Geschäftsführung aus dem Ausland an.
Even the management traveled from abroad for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new factory.
laying of the foundation stone
Spatenstich and Grundsteinlegung are both ceremonial acts marking the official start of a construction project. At a Spatenstich, soil is symbolically dug up with a spade. At a Grundsteinlegung, by contrast, the first stone of the building is laid.
Beim ersten Spatenstich hob die Bürgermeisterin etwas Erde für das neue Rathaus aus.
At the first groundbreaking ceremony, the mayor dug up some soil for the new town hall.
Bei der Grundsteinlegung setzte die Bürgermeisterin den ersten Stein für das neue Rathaus.
At the foundation stone ceremony, the mayor laid the first stone for the new town hall.
