Going to "big" school for the first time can be filled with tears for both children and adults, but at the Private School Swakopmund there is an age old tradition, which makes this actually something to look forward to.
The tradition of Zucketüte (a big homemade cone filled with all sorts of goodies) started in Ger-many in 1810. At first the ritual was to tie a bag for each child to a tree. On their first day the children had to look for the bag with his or her name on and "pick" it from the tree. This symbolized that the fruits (kids) were ripe and big enough to get picked. It was time to go to school. Years later the tradition changed slightly. Each child receives his or her Zuckertüte from an older learner, symbolizing the passing on of the "torch", a rite of passage. The cones are filled with school supplies, games and some sweets.
The Private School Swa-kopmund's first day cere-mony for the grade one's was a colorful and happy occasion. Each child re-ceived his or her cone from either a grade 2 pupil or an older sibling. Their parents or grandparents beautifully decorated each Zuckertüte with colorful images.
Pastor Tietz showed the kids his Zuckertüte from which he extracted all the gifts God wanted to give each child.
He took out a box of mat-ches and a candle (God lights a candle when it is dark), an apple (God gives food), tissues (God wipes away all tears), glue (God will not let you go) and a plaster (God will heal your wounds).
Later in the classroom the children could at last open their Zuckertüte and the anxiety of taking this big step became a distant me-mory.
It is easy to see why the school head, Mr. Lloyd Ulrich says, "when the kids come to school, they come with smiles on their faces". To start your school years excitedly opening a pre-sent, can only be the start of happy days receiving the gift of education.