Einschulung = First Day of School

Today is a big day for MC. It is 'einschulung' or the first day of school. I know, it is a Saturday but...

It has been a week since the first day of school in Germany, but not for the first graders. They are always one week late. Why? Because their first day of school would be a special moment for them. It would always be on a Saturday, during the first week of school, and the whole school and the parents and relatives and even the godparents are encouraged to attend. It is really a big event.

One morning, MC saw some of her friends who are now second graders and they excitedly blurted out that they are practicing a great song for the first graders! I paused and laugh before telling them that it is supposed to be a secret!

Oh, there is also always a mass scheduled and attended by the school kids. We attended the mass for the first graders yesterday, too.

So how did our day started? By lots of surprises!

Look at what we saw outside our front door, balloons and gifts and a poem for MC. It was a really nice gesture from our tenants. And that became the flavor of the day, excitement! She got more surprises as her guests of honors arrived- composing of oma and opa and her godmother, Nadine and her friend. Even our neighbor rang the bell to give her a wrapped present, something that she actually requested for.
The first was spent with a program at the school's gym. With her schülranzen (school bag) and her schultüte (school cone), whe sat with some of her closest friends ready to enjoy the day.
There were singing and showing of musical prowess by various school kids and in the end, the first graders where asked to go up the stage. With their school cone; a tradition since 1810 according to wikipedia:

School Cone, even though the word "Tüte" translates more as "bag" from German), often also called Zuckertüte ("sugar bag") especially in Eastern Germany is a paper (and later plastic) bag in particular.

When children in Germany set off for their first day in school upon entering first grade, their parents and/or grandparents present them with a big cardboard cone, prettily decorated and filled with toys, chocos and candies school supplies, and various other goodies. It is given to children to make this anxiously awaited first day of school a little bit sweeter.

She's too small, it isnt easy to find her behind the school cones!
Her school buddy, the one who would act as 'big sister' to her in the school. Her buddy gave her a letter months before the school year started, introducing herself. The fourth graders were asked to be buddies to the neophytes :D
Here is MC's seat! Squeezed between her good friends from kindergarten. After the program, the grade one students went to their classroom to have their first 30 minutes of class. The parents, relatives, etc; had to wait outside, though there were free snacks, coffee and some sparking wine to ease up the waiting period. And yes, they received their first homework, too.
She was among the first to storm out of the room and she smiled exclaiming, 'mama, school is better than kindergarten.' MC shares her 'key' the school, a pretzel shaped into a key; to an impatient IC.
We celebrated with MC's guests by having lunch at our favorite restaurant, the Watzenhof. Look at the kids unpacking their school cone. We even had to write on their guest book because the owner said this is a very important day, which made MC smile wider.
MC proudly shows off her first school work.
A quickly assembled gift from the restaurant owner, we're regulars guests, that's why.
IC's got her own school cone, too. It's practice time for her :)
The official first day of school photo of MC.

All in all, a very exciting day for all of us.

_____

PMN: Home and Garden features 'Ampalaya Grows in Germany, Too'.