>"Zuckertüte" was centuries ago a cone was made from paper to transport sugar. (a sheet of paper folded and clued to a near cone bag. (Is this a bag?)).
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>In the 19th century it becames a popular gift on the very first day on school. It's filled with school materials like pencils rulers and so on, small toys and - whats the name?- all kind of candy. (O.k. on some boring parts of germany they call it Schultüte) It's between 70 - 100cm tall. This the body it coud be filled beyond that. Compare with the the length of kid on that age!
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>If you like examples see Sdchultüte
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>But this is very german - and we feel sorry for your kids. What a lost celebration! ::)
>In germany this counts like christening and it's on that level the first celebration to a person that one can experience. (Hope I get this right. The first important celebration to person that the person can celebrate itself.)
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>There is a official part hold by schoo authorities and a familiar part. Fills a whole day.

For those who have forgotten German, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schult%C3%BCte has English text and pictures.

Nice custom. We also had some sort of internal ceremony at home for each of the girls - without the conical bag, though - and the schools try to make a bit of celebration themselves. Serves good to relieve some of the anxiety (for some kids it's the first day away from people they know) and make them feel somewhat important.