The cone-shaped first-day gift traditionally given to German children starting school is a Schultüte.
A Schultüte is a large decorated cone made from paper, cardboard, or plastic. Families fill it with sweets, small toys, school supplies, books, and other treats before a child begins first grade. The custom helps make an anxious milestone feel celebratory.
The tradition began in German-speaking areas around 1810, especially in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The earliest documented cone-shaped examples are associated with Jena in 1817, followed by Dresden in 1820 and Leipzig in 1836.
The name literally means “school cone,” although Tüte usually means “bag” in other contexts. In some German regions, the object is called a Zuckertüte, or “sugar cone.” Similar customs now appear in Austria, parts of Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, and the Czech Republic.