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Zirkel (Studentenverbindung)

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A Zirkel (German for 'circle', as in a circle of friends) is a monogram used in European student societies in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Estonia (Studentenverbindungen).

Look and meaning

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A Zirkel consists of intertwined lines, followed by an exclamation mark if the society is still active. 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:

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]

Usage

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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 English-speaking countries.

Examples:

References

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  1. ^ a b Peter Krause: O alte Burschenherrlichkeit - Die Studenten und ihr Brauchtum, Graz, Wien, Köln 1979, page 78, 79
  2. ^ a b Paulgerhard Gladen: Gaudeamus igitur - Die studentischen Verbindungen einst und jetzt, Köln 2001, page 31

Further reading

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  • 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)