German School Cones- Schultüte for the First Day of School

 

The Schultüte, German School cone, tradition dates back to the early 1800s in Germany. Leaving the childhood comforts of Kindergarten and moving on to “real school” can be a tough transition. So, on their first day of school when entering the first grade, children traditionally receive a cone-shaped bag, sometimes called a “Zuckertüte” (sugar bag), filled with treats and toys, to make starting real school just a little bit sweeter. Before the beginning of the School Year in Germany, you’ll see a variety of cones in stores, both filled and unfilled, for parents to buy. While the tradition hasn’t quite caught on in the USA, there are plenty of German School Cones to purchase and fill online. You can find them in a rainbow of colors, or even with a theme matching your child’s personality and favorites. Or, you can make one yourself!

Learn all about this wonderful German tradition, and with the beginning of school just around the corner, maybe start a similar tradition in your world!

Irmgard in Wuppertal with her Schultüte in 1959. Used with permission

Schultüte Tradition

The Schultüte, or School cone, dates to the early 1800s in Saxony and Thuringia. In Jena, children were told there was a sweets tree in the teacher’s yard, and when you were old enough to reach it, you could start school.  From there, the custom spread to Berlin. At the time, the cone was just the paper cone you would get from the store when you bought sweets, and filled with sugary treats. The idea was twofold.

First, it marked the special moment when a child would leave Kindergarten or daycare to go on to real school. They were no longer “babies”, so it was a change in status.

Second, it made this HUGE life-changing, and certainly intimidating, event a little sweeter.

Erich Kastner, the author of the Doppelte Lottchen, made into the movie The Parent Trap, wrote in his 1957 autobiography, “Als ich ein Kleiner Junge War”, “When I was a child, I received a bag filled with sweets and tied with a silk ribbon.“ I “stand bis an die Knöchel in Bonbons, Pralinen, Datteln, Osterhasen, Feigen, Apfelsinen, Törtchen, Waffeln und goldenen Maikäfern“ (stood “up to the ankles in sweets, chocolates, dates, Easter bunnies, figs, oranges, tartlets, waffles and golden cockchafer“)

After WWI, the custom spread to the South and West in Germany. Children were presented with Schultüten in Westphalia in the 1930s and up through the 1960s, although it wasn’t as common a practice.

In the early days, there would be a metal or wooden “Tree” at the school. Parents or Godparents would take the Schultüte, marked with their child’s name, to school the night before, and hang it from the tree. On the first day of school, kids learned that there is a Schultütebaum at school, and if they are big enough to pick one, they are big enough to attend school.

Today, it is still common for grandparents and godparents to buy the Schultüte, but they seldom get hung from trees, and ; it’s more common to fill them with practical gifts like crayons, school supplies, or little toys, but still,there is often something sweet inside too.Usually, parents will hang the Schultüte from the child’s bedroom door, so the child sees it when they awake.

Schulanfänger, Urdenbach, 3. April 1953- via Bundesarchive commons

I love early Schultüte Tradition. It all began in Saxony and Thuringa in around 1815, and spread to cities and towns across Germany rather quickly. Grandparents or Godparents would fill a Schultüte or Cone Shaped bag with sweets, label it with the child’s name, and hang it from a metal or wooden Schultüte Tree outside the school. The children would then find theirs, and take it down carefully… without breaking it! If the Schultüte was ripe for picking, and the child was big enough to claim it, then he or she would be ready to start school.

One thing to note: the Schultüte is not opened at school. It is opened at home.  Even in times of War or depression, a child could still get a cone (although not everyone did) with something in it, but it might not be sweets or treats. Instead, it could be something more practical. And no one else would have to know what was inside.  And that was the important part.

And naturally, today, like on Christmas and Easter, some parents go crazy filling the school cones with all sorts of toys and games, as well as sweets and school supplies. Other parents keep it simple. It’s up to the parent to decide what they feel is right. It’s probably best that these things stay at home. Can you also imagine the distraction in the classroom if all those goodies suddenly appeared!

I see the Schultüte is a lovely tradition. Marking the time when a child leaves Kindergarten and moves on to Real School makes a wonderful memory. This rite of passage shows the child they are growing up! It doesn’t have to be extravagant! A few candies and some essential school supplies are a great way to celebrate!

Do you want to incorporate the German Schultüte into your family tradition? You can find the cones below.

German School Cones to Buy Online

While you can buy a German school cone already filled with treats, many more fabric or paper cones come unfilled. These can be used later for play or storage. With so many styles, I’m sure you will find the perfect Schultüte for your little one. 

OR You can make your own School Cones with one of the patterns I’ve listed below.

24″ Fabric Schultuete, First Day of School Bag, German TraditionPersonalized school cone – favorite character, hobby, color & name. Designs are individually created according to your child’s wishes – a unique item!

 

Custom – Fabric Initial Schultüte / Skolepose / School Cone / First Day of School BagConfetti school cone, dark blue with neon colors and various motifs, 35 cm and 70 cm,Custom – Fabric Camping SchultütePersonalized Ballet Schultüte, Pink Fabric School Cone for Girls, First Day of School Gift,

MINIS!

These mini Schultüten come empty, or filled with cute little gifts like stamps or hair scrunchies. Choose from 45 colors! They are perfect for tucking into the backpack of a new student, or for little siblings who don’t want to be left out.

Back to School German Tradition Schultüte | Small Medium Large SchultütenMini corduroy fabric school cone, filled or unfilled14″ Fabric Blue MultiDot Schultüte

Looking for a perfect Schultüte Filler? Life is Better With Friends!
My Friends and I is an interactive memory book that turns everyday friendships into lasting memories — and lets kids literally write a book together!
Every friend becomes a co‑author, filling their page with fun facts, doodles, dreams, and all the quirky things that make them… them.

My Friends and I…Write a Book – Fill‑in‑the‑Blank Friendship Book for Kids Ages 5–12, Co‑Written by Their Friends

Order Cones from Germany

These aren’t expensive, but there is a higher shipping cost.

Personalized fabric school cone with name | Large school cone or sibling school cone | 28 designs | First day of school | Washable candy coneEmbroidered school cone, girl/boy, dinosaur/fawn motif in beige/blue, candy cone, twins, first day of school gift, sibling cone, pillow insert

 

goldbuch School Cone, Cardboard, School, 35 x 11.5 x 11.5 cmAMAZON.DEitenga sibling school cone – 35 cm, animals,AMAZON.DE

Make Your Own Schultüte

There are some instruction books, or you can get a kit. You don’t have to be super “crafty” to put together one of these cute kits. (added bonus… it’s a lot cheaper!)

Sewing pattern for a 3-section school cone (PDF) – 50 cm – for cardboard blank Ø 16.5 cm – DIN A4 – suitable for beginners

 

Felt Schultüte: 24″ DIY School Cone, First Day of School Gift

 

 

 

 

Brunnen-Reihe, Wir basteln Schultüten