Zirkel (Studentenverbindung)

Symbol used by European student organizations

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) as a post-nominal letter.

## 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:

* Zirkel of Corps Hubertia Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany

* Zirkel of Corps Germania München [de] in Munich, Germany

* Zirkel of Corps Altsachsen in Dresden, Germany

* Zirkel of Corps Gothia Innsbruck [de] in Innsbruck, Austria

* Zirkel of Sängerschaft zu St. Pauli Jena [de] in Jena, Germany

* Zirkel of Burschenschaft Ascania zu Köln [de] in Cologne, Germany

* Zirkel of Frankfurt-Leipziger Burschenschaft Arminia [de] in Leipzig, Germany

* Zirkel of Landsmannschaft Schottland in Tübingen, Germany

* Zirkel of Sängerschaft Hohentübingen [de] in Tübingen, Germany

* Zirkel of K.V.H.C. Zuid-Oost-Vlaamse [nl] (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]

## 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:

* 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.

* Cigarette case with the Zirkel of a Jewish Studentenverbindung from Basel, in the Jewish Museum of Switzerland’s collection.

## See also

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* Post-nominal letters

## 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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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zirkel (Studentenverbindung).

Look up Zirkel in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

* 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)