The first day of school is an important event in the life of every child. A colorful, bulging school cone is a natural part of it for most. Where does this custom actually come from? How can you make your own school cones and what do they contain? This article will answer these and other exciting questions.

Origin and history of the school bag

The school cone, also called a sugar cone in the past because of its mostly sweet contents, has a long tradition.

The first written evidence of their existence is even older: it is found in the autobiography of Karl Gottlieb Bretschneider, the son of a pastor from Gersdorf in Saxony. When he started school in 1781 or 1782, he writes, he was presented with a sugar cone by the schoolmaster. There is further evidence from 1801 from the Thuringian Forest, from 1817 from Jena and from 1820 from Dresden.

The school cone probably owes its final breakthrough in East Germany to a children's book from 1852, in which author Moritz Heger tells the story of the Zuckertütenbaum (sugar cone tree), which is found in the cellar of every school and on which school cones grow instead of fruit.

Based on this fairy tale, the Zuckertütenfest (sugar cone festival) is still held in kindergartens in eastern Germany today, as a kind of final preparation for starting school. Factory production of school cones began in Saxony as early as 1894, but the cone made its way to the West only gradually. Individual examples date back to the beginning of the 20th century, but more widespread use did not occur until the 1950s and 1960s.

The school cone originated in East Germany and has existed for over 200 years. Because of the sweets it contains, it was also called a sugar cone.

What materials are suitable for the manufacture of school bags?

The classic school cone is made of sturdy, colorful cardboard. It tapers to a point at the bottom and is either round or hexagonal at the top (the square version was mainly used in the GDR, but is now also very popular in the West).

For the collar, colorful crepe paper has proven successful, which is tied with matching bows.

Glitter cardstock may look pretty and used to be popular, but it is less recommended for environmental reasons. There are beautiful alternatives made of compostable material that your child will like just as much. The choice of school cone is therefore a good opportunity to raise awareness of sustainability among children starting school.

A high-quality, also environmentally friendly option are school bags made of fabric or felt. They can be designed very creatively, embroidered with your child's name and decorated with all kinds of appliqués. If you then make sure that the color and pattern of the fabric matches the school bag, the look is perfect for the first day at school.

School bags are usually made of cardboard. Fabric, felt, crepe paper and ribbons can also be processed.

School bags made of corrugated board: what are the advantages?

Corrugated board contains only paper and a glue made from plant starch. It is made from 80 percent recycled material and can be recycled again after use. So when it comes to sustainability, school bags made of corrugated board are hard to beat. Thanks to its special construction, the lightweight material is also particularly stable.

This means that school cones stay in better shape and the contents are protected accordingly - even if the kids are a bit rough with the good stuff. Since corrugated cardboard can be wonderfully printed and finished, such sugar cones also become a visual highlight.

Here we give you an overview of all the advantages of corrugated board:

• from renewable raw materials
• Fully recyclable
• easy
• stable
• reliable cushion function
• well printable and finishable.
  
  

School bags made of corrugated cardboard are light and strong. The material is environmentally friendly, recyclable and is excellent for printing.

Buy school cones or do you prefer to make them yourself?

In earlier times, it was a matter of course to make the school cone yourself. Nowadays, a wide range of industrially manufactured products (standard size 70-85 cm) is available in stores, so many parents use this convenient option. Designs and colors of the cones are subject to current trends and turn out a little different every year. When choosing the size, you should take into account the height of your child, so that he can hold the school bag well.

Making school cones completely by yourself takes a little time and effort. However, many parents enjoy assembling the materials themselves and customizing everything. For the basic model you need the following utensils:

• colored cardboard box
• Crepe paper
• colorful wrapping paper
• Ribbon
• Decoration materials
• Scissors or cutter knife
• Adhesive.

You'll find plenty of do-it-yourself instructions with creative tips online. You can speed up the process by buying a school cone blank (made of corrugated cardboard, for example) at a stationery store or online and designing it according to your ideas. Alternatively, you can also buy complete craft kits in stores, some of which are also made from sustainable materials.

It's up to you to decide whether you want your child to be involved in the whole thing, whether you want him to choose his own school cone or whether you want him to help make it. Some parents see this as a nice ritual to prepare for the first day of school, others prefer to keep it a secret and go for the surprise effect. It also depends on how well you know your child's taste - after all, he or she should be proud of the school cone!

What goes into the school bag?

The writer Erich Kästner came to school in Dresden in 1906. In his childhood memories, he describes a sugar cone full of "candies, chocolates, dates, Easter bunnies, figs, oranges, cupcakes, wafers and golden May bugs.

That the contents of school bags have changed over the years is obvious. In times of need, for example, even potatoes were filled inside. Sweets, however, still play a major role today and must not be missing from any school cone - after all, the transition to the serious side of life is supposed to be sweetened for the school starters.

To create a connection to school, the bag can also contain items that are useful in everyday school life. Whether it's a pencil, ruler or eraser, a writing pad, watercolors or a fancy lunch box - there are almost no limits to your imagination. Of course, the children are also happy about toys, key chains or their first own alarm clock (so that getting up is easier).

One important note: The school bag should not be a status symbol. The kids should not have to envy each other and it should not be about who has the biggest bag and the most expensive gifts. Lovingly selected and beautifully packaged little things make all children's hearts beat faster and fully serve their purpose. Thus, with all the fun and joy, there is still room for the real highlight of the day: the start of school!

Originally, the school cone mainly contained nuts, dried fruit and pastries. Today, in addition to sweets, it also contains toys and school supplies such as crayons and exercise books.

Does the school cone also exist in other countries?

For a long time, the school cone was reserved for German children. Only gradually did the custom find its way to Austria and Switzerland. However, it was not able to spread beyond the German-speaking countries.

But how is the first day of school celebrated elsewhere?

In places where children still wear school uniforms today (for example, in Brazil and many African countries), this alone symbolizes the beginning of a new phase of life.

Indian school beginners eat a special yogurt on the first day of school and the girls have the traditional red dot painted on their foreheads as a sign of blessing.

In Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the former Soviet Union, each of the little ABC students presents the future class teacher with a bouquet of flowers. The children themselves are smartly dressed up for their first day at school and are then duly celebrated at home.

Conclusion

Even if it's "only" made of cardboard, it's hard to imagine the first day of school in this country without a school cone. Lovingly designed from sustainable materials and filled with sweets and small gifts, it sweetens the children's start into the serious side of life. If you like to be creative, you can make all or part of the sugar cone for your offspring yourself. Blanks made of sturdy corrugated cardboard are suitable as a basis for this.

FAQ

1. Who invented the school cone?

   A specific inventor of the sugar cone is not known. However, the custom originates from East Germany and is over 200 years old.

2. Can you make your own school cones?

   Yes, you can buy school cone blanks made of cardboard, but also entire craft sets. If you're particularly creative, you can assemble all the materials yourself.

3. What are school bags filled with?

   The school cone usually contains sweets and small gifts. These can be pens, notebooks, schoolbags, but also toys or everyday items.

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