Does anyone know about the German tradition for the first day of kindergarten?
The German School Cone – Schultuete The first day of school is especially sweet and memorable in Germany. On this day each child entering the first grade receives a large cone decorated with paper and ribbon. Inside they find small gifts, school supplies, and lots of chocolate and candy. Often the entire family, including the grandparents, accompanies the child to school. In the northern outskirts of Hamburg where I lived last year, most families walked together to the school in their Sunday best. Once at the school, everyone enjoys a musical performance put on by the older students. The new first-graders are then sent off with their teacher to see their classroom. After a brief introduction, the students are allowed outside to rejoin their families and to take individual and class photos. Each child poses, clutching their cone and a sign designates the name of the school and the year. Some of the cones dwarf the five- and six-year-olds.
