Zirkel (Studentenverbindung)
A Zirkel is a symbol used in Central European student societies (Studentenverbindungen).
Look and Meaning
A Zirkel consists of interwined lines, mostly followed by an exclamation mark. The lines mostly show the first letters of the name of the Studentenverbindung and / or the letters v,c,f or e,f,v.
Examples:
Zirkel of Corps Hubertia Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany
Zirkel of Corps Germania München in Munich, Germany
Zirkel of Corps Altsachsen in Dresden, Germany
Zirkel of Corps Gothia Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria
Zirkel of Sängerschaft zu St. Pauli Jena in Jena, Germany
Zirkel of Burschenschaft Ascania zu Köln in Cologne, Germany
Zirkel of Frankfurt-Leipziger Burschenschaft Arminia in Leipzig, Germany
Zirkel of Landsmannschaft Schottland in Tübingen, Germany
Zirkel of Sängerschaft Hohentübingen in Tübingen, Germany
Meaning of v-c-f:
- Vivant fratres coniuncti ("the conjunct brothers should live")[1] or
- Vivat circulus fratrum ("the circle of brothers should live")[1] or
- Vivat, crescat, floreat ("live, grow, flourish").[2]
Meaning of e-f-v:
- Ehre, Freiheit, Vaterland ("Honour, Liberty, Fatherland").[2]
The exclamation mark means that the society is still active and alive.[3]
Usage
The members of the Studentenverbindung use the Zirkel as sign on Couleur or other things e.g. beer glasses etc. If a member signs in affairs of its Studentenverbindung it places the Zirkel after its signature. This use is similar to the use of postnominals in Anglo-Saxon countries.
Examples:
Straßencerevis with embroidered Zirkel and oak leaves
beer mug and Zipfel with Zirkel
Crest of the fraternity Corps Hubertia Freiburg with a Zirkel in the upper right. This crest is a wall display on the outside of a fraternity house.
The center of the official fraternity crest of Corps Altsachsen Dresden is marked with a Zirkel.
References
Further reading
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zirkel (Studentenverbindung). |
- Peter Krause: O alte Burschenherrlichkeit - Die Studenten und ihr Brauchtum, Graz, Wien, Köln 1979 (German), ISBN 3-222-11127-8
- Peter Krause: O alte Burschenherrlichkeit - Die Studenten und ihr Brauchtum, 5. verb. Auflage, Graz, Wien, Köln 1997 (German), ISBN 3-222-12478-7
- Paulgerhard Gladen: Gaudeamus igitur - Die studentischen Verbindungen einst und jetzt, Köln 2001 (German) ISBN 3-88059-996-3
- Edgar Hunger / Curt Meyer: Studentisches Brauchtum, Bonn, Stuttgart 1958 (German)
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