Celebrating the first day of school

Do you remember your first day of school? If you went to school in Germany, the chances are you do, and you probably remember it well. Or at least you will have fond memories of your Schultüte, a giant colourful cone made of cardboard full of sweets and other surprises.

In Germany starting school is a major life milestone and, like all important events, it deserves a proper celebration. There is even a word called Einschulungsfeier, the party to celebrate the first day of school. Feier means party by the way. This is perhaps not so surprising considering there is also a word called Feierabend for when you finish work. Germans like parties after all.

Last Saturday, 34,000 children in Berlin alone celebrated their first day of school at the 400 primary schools or Grundschulen across the German capital. If you happened to walk by a primary school, or had lunch in a restaurant close to one, you probably noticed all the hustle and bustle, unusual for a Saturday when schools are normally closed.

On the morning of this special day, the children starting primary school together with their families (parents, siblings and often also grandparents) gather in the main assembly hall, where they are greeted by the headmistress or headmaster. Each child holds a Schultüte (in some cases it is as tall as the child itself) and carries a school bag, or Schulranzen in German.

The ceremony to welcome the new pupils usually involves a play or performance put on by the older children and a short speech by the headmistress or headmaster. Then each child is called by the teacher and together they walk to their classroom, without the parents. This is when the first class officially begins. After 20-30 minutes the children re-emerge with their teachers in the schoolyard. For some children now is the time to finally find out what their parents have hidden in the cone (usually a combination of sweets and school supplies); others will have to wait until they get home. The party is not over yet though. After taking pictures, the families move on to a restaurant or go back home for lunch.

By Monday morning, once all the excitement has worn off, the children are ready and eager to start school.