Symbols that start trick-or-treating a German flower (6)
I believe the answer is:
totems
'symbols' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'start trick-or-treating a german flower' is the wordplay.
'start' says to take the initial letters.
'a german flower' becomes 'ems' (I've seen this before. I am not sure about the 'german' bit.).
The initial letters of 'trick or treating' is 'tot'.
'tot'+'ems'='TOTEMS'
'that' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for totems that I've seen before include "Emblems once adopted by native Americans, seen on pole" , "Motets (anag.)" , "Natural objects adopted as emblems" , "Poles" , "Signs" .)