Tracy,

Somebody must start it - normaly it will grow itself. ::)
Check for Anna Jarvis.

But you must see both sides. There are gift you have to do to your neighbors, relatives and friends childs. To the friends of your kid, if this is on similar age too. It's not money - it's all those little things social networking include. They meet each other. They compare! But one can't give the same gift to everyboy. It must fit the kid (the parents too). Finaly you have a 2 week job if your kid is not directly involved - if it is it's much larger. We will start now with the organisation of next years celebration of my daughter. I need a restaurant or at least a large room (my apartment is made for four people. We are five now. 30 is toooo much!). It must fullfill everybodys dream (200 years!!) And all schools start this day! One have to dress the kid for that day. You have to check who is invited and who is not. Nice invitation cards. Aunt Emma get hers one day later! It's like a little wedding.

So, be carefull with your wishes ::)
Agnes
>You're welcome. I wish we did have something similar here - I bet the kids love starting school with that tradition! :o) My neighbors kids were very excited and that was all they talked about.
>
>
>>Tracy,
>>
>>thanks for the description. I've tried several times but yours is perfect.
>>
>>Except ...
>>
>>>... that was almost as tall as the kids. .....
>>
>>Commonly at least one child is not tall enough. It needs support by its parents to carry it.
>>
>>This depends on the location. Those in the east are larger. (around 15cm) and could be filled higher than the cone itself.
>>
>>See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schult%C3%BCte (Thanks to Dragan) or in german http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schult%C3%BCte
>>
>>>... The parents made them ...
>>
>>They are sold on stores that deal with paperware. Parents fill it with the gifts.
>>
>>Yes, you can made it yourself. From the scratch. Pre worked sets are also available. But the biggest problem is the printed wrapping. Even if you have a A3 color printer, you need a good part of work the create the print and some tries to put it perfect on the cardboard cone. I've tried - and failed. And it's handed out in front of all the other childs and there relatives (down the cousins) Would you like to blame your child with a non-perfect wrapper?
>>
>>>... and stayed all day ...
>>
>>Something new to me (Some strange parts of western germany might do so).
>>
>>The common way I know:
>>
>>1th official ceremony with schools director, class teacher (you know this one or do we get the next problem?), sometimes local politicans. Last time I was outon this the Zuckertüte was hande out here
>>
>>2th A single lesson with the class teacher. More informal than teaching. Kid only.
>>
>>3th Great lunch (Lunch is not exactly that what it means. You know wath germans eat at this time?) with the family, might be an even larger part of it the 1th step, normaly in a restaurant serving traditional german lunchtime food. The later day varies, but it's commonly spent with the whole family. Could run half the night.
>>
>>Agnes
>>
>>.>It doesn't exist here that I know of. When I was in Germany, my neighbors all did this. It was a large cone-shaped container made of colored paper or colored construction paper/cardboard that was almost as tall as the kids. They were filled with inexpensive toys, candy, and school supplies. The parents made them and took them to the school before the day that school started. Then on the first day of school the parents went to school with the child and stayed all day. The child was given the cone.
>>>
>>>
>>>>>Hi Dragan,
>>>>>
>>>>>>...
>>>>>>Checked with my wife: sugarcone.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm looked around and all what I found on sugarcone is is a kind of wafer used for icecream. Is this what you mean?
>>>>
>>>>I didn't say it existed here... just that it's the proper translation :).
>>>>
>>>>I've seen it on pictures (got some inlaws in Germany), so I know what it is, and I don't think anyone here would have a word for it.