The "Schultüte" is a 200-year-old German tradition designed to celebrate a child's transition from kindergarten to first grade.
The Tradition:
- 🎁 On the first day of school, children carry a giant, colorful paper cone that is often as big as they are.
- 🍭 These cones are filled with sweets, toys, and school supplies like pens and crayons to make the "seriousness of life" a bit sweeter.
The Origin:
- 📜 The custom started in the early 19th century in regions like Saxony and Thuringia.
- 🌳 Legends used to tell children that a "Schultüten-tree" grew in the teacher's cellar, and when the cones were ripe, it was time for school to start.