Schultute, Read on 😊
Schultute is a “back to school” tradition originating in Germany in the 1800s. The tradition was started by grandparents and/or godparents, and would happen on the first day of school all across Europe. Each school would have a certain tree or either a metal tree in the schoolyard for grandparents/godparents to come and hang school cones for their children to welcome them back for the first day of school. Originally the cones were made of paper and would be decorated according to the child’s interests, along with the child’s name. The cones would be filled with candy, school supplies, small toys, and even clothing.
One of my favorite things is small, fun, but manageable traditions. I discovered this website a few years ago – Heirloom Art Co – when searching for some Christmas items. I literally fell in love! They not only have a website full of fun items to carry on heritage traditions, but they also have a blog about the history and origins of traditions. When I read about this tradition, I was beyond excited! (Link to article below) Simple, doable, and memory making moments.
ADHD Pause: I had all intentions of writing about this tradition last week, but since moving (yes, almost 3 years now) I really thought that a smaller space would help with the “organizing.” Well that’s a big joke! I knew I had put these cones in a special place and was for certain I would remember where I had put them. Really believed in myself- apparently too much! I tore my room apart, to find them in a perfect place, in a special box, right next to my desk. However, that took all of 24 hours to think of looking in. Hopefully I will remember next year!
I have chosen to use the metal cones that Heirloom Art Co sell on their website. I personally like the unique look and also they will last and maybe the tradition will be passed along to the next generation.
I purchased three- one for Lucy, one for my niece, one for my nephew. And I fill all three each year. Why? Because it gives us opportunity to talk about everybody’s coming school year and a fun way to talk about Lucy and what they imagine she would be like and what she would be into. It opens up the conversation to what they are excited and nervous about, and how we can pray for them this school year.
I always “hang” them together, all three. So since I am usually not with my niece and nephew on the first day of school, I just try to get it as close as I can to the first day. 😊 One year I hung them in their front yard after picking them up from school one day. One year I hung them in a bush on our back porch to find before school started. This year I hung them in our library, because it was last week and it was SO HOT!!!
The size of the cone is small – a challenge that I love. It’s the acknowledgement that school is starting and that they matter, not so much the items inside, although those are fun too. Some of the things I have placed inside: pens, pencils, sticky notes, notepads, stickers, finger puppets, headbands, bows, animals, washi tape, tattoos, matchbox games (can find on Heirloom Art co. website), bookmarks, little notes.
My absolute favorite thing about this tradition is that it requires a pause. They have this expectation of just a small thing, and they search for it and find it. And when anxiety may be running high in their hearts and minds, they are reminded that they are worth a pause, a million pauses.
Life Book of the Week: Late for School, by Steve Martin
