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

Meaning of v-c-f:
 Vivant fratres coniuncti ("the joined brothers should live")Peter Krause: O alte Burschenherrlichkeit - Die Studenten und ihr Brauchtum, Graz, Wien, Köln 1979, page 78, 79 or
 Vivat circulus fratrum ("the circle of brothers should live") or
 Vivat, crescat, floreat ("live, grow, flourish").Paulgerhard Gladen: Gaudeamus igitur - Die studentischen Verbindungen einst und jetzt, Köln 2001, page 31

Meaning of e-f-v:
 Ehre, Freiheit, Vaterland ("Honour, Freedom, 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 (such as 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

References

Further reading
 Peter Krause: O alte Burschenherrlichkeit - Die Studenten und ihr Brauchtum, Graz, Wien, Köln 1979 (German), 
 Peter Krause: O alte Burschenherrlichkeit - Die Studenten und ihr Brauchtum, 5. verb. Auflage, Graz, Wien, Köln 1997 (German), 
 Paulgerhard Gladen: Gaudeamus igitur - Die studentischen Verbindungen einst und jetzt, Köln 2001 (German)  
 Edgar Hunger / Curt Meyer: Studentisches Brauchtum, Bonn, Stuttgart 1958 (German)

Category:Symbols