Hi! I was just wondering if there are any special "start of school" traditions in Switzerland. I apologize in advance if this has been discussed elsewhere, the searches I did came up empty.

We will be moving with a 2nd grader and (hopefully) 2nd year kindergartener - and I doubt I am "required" to do anything special, but I just want to make sure. We are currently in Germany and the big deal here is the start of first grade, with the Schulranzen and big Tüten with goodies. So, if we make it to our location by the first day of school, I would hate to have the only kids without the special treats for the first day - you know, first impressions and all

We didn't do anything special, and it all worked out fine.

The tradition with the "Schultüten" is German.There is only one tradition I know and strictly for first graders in school and kindergarten. Proud parents escort their kids to school and stay a couple of minutes in the classroom to make sure that everything is ok.

They do something special on the last day of term before Christmas - but you'll know about that when it happens - very early in the day.

I don't think there is anything equivalent to the German tradition. It is important, however, to buy the right type of bag for children to take to Kindergarten and school. In Kindergarten they have a "znuni tasche" to take their mid-morning snack which is either a small rucksack or a bag which goes over the shoulder. In years 1, 2 and 3 of school they have a "thek" which is a moulded type of rucksack usually with some fairly lurid pattern and when children move up to the 4th class they have a more trendy grown-up rucksack (i.e. not moulded).

Good luck for your move.

And "Znünitasche" and "Schulsack or Thek" are usually bought by the godmother.

ah, time to inform the godmothers, then Well, the 2nd grader got her molded bag (that is what is a Schulranzen) here in Germany for the start of first grade, and I will now start searching for a Znünitasche. She does have a hand me down molded bag I bought off eBay for 1€ after big sister got hers so she has it to "play" school with!