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 Germania in Munich
• 
  Zirkel of Akademisches Corps Gothia in Innsbruck
• 
  Zirkel of Sängerschaft zu St. Pauli in Jena
• 
  Zirkel of Burschenschaft Ascania in Cologne
• 
  Zirkel of Burschenschaft Arminia in Leipzig
• 
  Zirkel of Landsmannschaft Schottland in Tübingen

Meaning of v-c-f:

• Vivant fratres coniuncti ("the conjunct brothers should live") or
• Vivat circulus fratrum ("the circle of brothers should live") or
• Vivat, crescat, floreat ("live, grow, flourish").

Meaning of e-f-v:

• Ehre, Freiheit, Vaterland ("Honour, Liberty, Fatherland").

The meaning of the exclamation mark is not quite clear.

Using

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'

Further reading

• 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)