It’s official: The Schultüte is 200 years old

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the traditional German Schultuete.  First mentioned in Jena in the Eastern region of Germany in 1810, the school cone has ever since become a symbol for German school children when they set off on their first day of school, in particular on the first day of first grade.  The big cardboard cone is decorated with stickers, drawings or comes as a large shiny and perfectly formed Schultüte filled with little gift, school supplies and – to the child’s delight – lots of sweet goodies.

The history of the Schultüte, now known in the States as KinderCone , dates back 200 years when it was introduced in the cities of Dresden and Leipzig.  The cones were taken to school by the proud parents or grandparents and hung onto a so-called Schultüten tree, then they were passed to the children by the teacher.  I am sure that in these times this must have been the highlight in every child’s life.  To this day you can ask any German about their first day of school and they will tell you about it in detail.  Just ask celebrities like Heidi Klum or Leonardo Di Caprio how they liked their KinderCone; when you are German or have a German mother, you will have a Schultüte – it is a must.

As we celebrate 200 years of this tradition, KinderCone wants to take it to the next level and make the first day of school a new day to celebrate.  And why not for the second and third graders as well? I know that my children are always looking forward to their first day of school  - they always get a little KinderCone as a reward for being great students and great kids  - even when one of them will enter 7th grade next year.  These two pictures were taken before KinderCone came to life – but you can tell the excitement and happiness in their smiles, it is what truly inspired me.

my inspiration was that smile

Even a Pre-schooler gets a KinderCone!