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:
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Zirkel of Corps Hubertia Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany
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Zirkel of Corps Germania München in Munich, Germany
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Zirkel of Corps Altsachsen in Dresden, Germany
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Zirkel of Corps Gothia Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria
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Zirkel of Sängerschaft zu St. Pauli Jena in Jena, Germany
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Zirkel of Burschenschaft Ascania zu Köln in Cologne, Germany
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Zirkel of Frankfurt-Leipziger Burschenschaft Arminia in Leipzig, Germany
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Zirkel of Landsmannschaft Schottland in Tübingen, Germany
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Zirkel of K.V.H.C. Zuid-Oost-Vlaamse (de ZOV) in Leuven, Belgium
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:
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Straßencerevis with embroidered Zirkel and oak leaves
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beer mug and Zipfel with Zirkel
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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.
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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)