{"id":6165,"date":"2013-08-21T05:14:28","date_gmt":"2013-08-21T05:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=6165"},"modified":"2013-08-21T15:08:20","modified_gmt":"2013-08-21T15:08:20","slug":"the-schultute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/the-schultute\/","title":{"rendered":"The Schult\u00fcte"},"content":{"rendered":"

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You would be forgiven for thinking that the Play Mobil People above are wielding over-sized (and slightly garish) golfing umbrellas – as I did at first.\u00a0 I thought they were actually holding oddly shaped golfing umbrellas right up until our first August here, when cardboard cones in various patterns and sizes started appearing in the shops.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But, they are in fact clasping Schult\u00fcten<\/a> – traditionally given to children on their very first day at “big” school (at the age of six here in Bavaria, and in the rest of Germany and in Austria too!)…<\/p>\n

Designed to sweeten the blow that the majority of their little lives will now mostly be about full-time education, these cones usually contain sweets, pencils and other treats and toys to wish them well on their first day.<\/p>\n

And today, on the first day back at school (where did that summer holiday go?) having left the heady days of Kindergarten behind him (*sniff* (that’s me weeping)), this afternoon The Six Year Old will be presented with his very own schult\u00fcte as he begins First Grade. \u00a0 \u00a0 Although he’s quite indifferent about the prospect (probably due to the fact that it’s highly unlikely to contain anything “Star Wars”!) his big sister is incredibly jealous… Having just moved from Denmark, she didn’t start First Grade until part the way through the term, and with a Mother who then hadn’t a clue that the things even existed, she feels quite aggrieved about the fact that she missed out on the whole Schult\u00fcte thing…<\/p>\n

If you fancy making one in time for the start back at school for the Small Person in your life, then have a gander at this tutorial from the uber talented Red Ted Art…<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 I will admit to cheating with this particular specimen (well we can buy them here!)I just covered up the pink and sickly ponies with something a bit more tasteful, and Small Girl’s slightly belated version is waiting for her to get home…<\/p>\n

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