Schultüten

In Germany, it is tradition to give your child that is entering the first grade a "Schultüten" (school cone).  It typically has school supplies and "sweets" in it.  Although Thomas doesn't actually attend a German school, I was prepared with his own Schultüten so he wouldn't be the "only kid" in the class without one.  Turns out he was one of two that did have one, and actually we left his in the car with the understanding that I would go back and get it if it seemed like most of the kids also had one. He decided it was OK if we left it in the car, I guess this was one of those instances where it was "better to be safe then sorry" and we were safe!  Just a little history on this funny, yet cute, little traditon:

The tradition dates back to 1810, when the first candy cones made the children’s eyes sparkle in Thuringia and Saxony. According to the legend, at the teacher’s home there stands a tree which is decorated with a candy cone for every child. Once the tree has matured, it is time to begin school and the candy cones are handed out to the children. In those days, the godparents gave the children the cone-shaped, colorful packages, which were filled only with sweets. In eastern Germany, the kindergarteners even had a candy cone party, at which the soon-to-be first-graders were promenaded before the families before being allowed to remove a candy cone from a beautifully decorated tree. Nowadays, candy cones can be bought in all shapes and sizes, decorated in a wide variety of patterns, and are filled with school materials, small trinkets, toys, and sweets.

My neighbor, Simone, suggested I give Toby a small Schultüten of his own.  It was a great idea!