The start of the new school year is just around the corner. In the state of Hesse, school begins again on 16 August (with starting dates varying from state to state).

I have not been out much recently, but I expect the stores to be full of Schultüten (First-day-of-school cone) on display. Parents fill the cone with goodies, stationary supplies, books, etc. The children carry the cone around on their first day of school and get to open it finally once they get home.

As this is something traditionally German, there is no proper translation for this term in English. So far I have seen:

*Kinder cup

*First-day-of-school cornet

*Goodie cornet

*Gift cone

My picture shows me on a day in mid-September when traditionally Bavarian schools start up again. Every morning, my mom would braid my hair and roll it into a “nest” on top. There were times I found snippets of paper, rubber bands, and other light-weight items at the end of the day. Thanks, Jürgen, Johannes, Klaus, and Manfred!

My first day of school in September 1967

If you think my picture looks old , then visit Fanzone 50 for a trip further down the road of Schultüten nostalgia.