As of: April 3, 2024, 6:55 p.m
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Meeting in the “castle” on Sudetenstrasse: Knight Synghetix, in real life Werner Sebb from Geretsried (2nd from right), welcomes the “Sassen” (members). Thomas Schulz (left) is a new addition. He has already been promoted to Junker and is now waiting for his knighthood. © Hans Lippert
Men's association for the cultivation of friendship, art and humor - but with problems with young people: This is the Geretsried men's association Schlaraffia.
Geretsried – Anyone who goes to the basement of the building at Sudetenstrasse 65 enters a world of their own. The “Reych” of “Schlaraffia im Isarwinkl” is located here, one of around 300 Reychen worldwide, with around 10,000 members in total. The association with the Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen catchment area was founded in 1969 by, among others, some Transylvanian Saxons from Geretsried. 55 years later he is looking for new members.
Founded 55 years ago: Geretsried men's association “Schlaraffia im Isarwinkl” is looking for new members
The main room looks like a medieval knight's hall. There is a small kitchen and a side room for all the ceremony paraphernalia needed, including swords and helmets and a wooden horse on wheels. At the beginning of each “Sippung” (meeting), the chief schlaraffe knight G'stanzl enters the hall, followed by his squires, squires and knights. With a joyful “Lulu!”, Ritter Synghetix, in real life Werner Sebb from Geretsried, greets the “Sassen” (members) and welcome “Einreiter” (visitors) of other Schlaraffia clubs. Those who have traveled the furthest this evening come from the Zillertal, many from “Tegrinsee” and “Wilhaim” (Weilheim).
All the men are dressed like in carnival, with jester's caps on their heads, wrapped in cloaks and decorated with medals. But the whole thing has nothing to do with carnival, nor with Freemasonry and clubs like the Lions or the Rotarians. Rather, Schlaraffia is a global, German-speaking men's association founded in 1859 by members of the German Theater in Prague to cultivate friendship, art and humor.
You can read the latest news from Geretsried here.
The club's symbol is a winking eagle owl: topics on politics, religion, football and women are prohibited
The symbol of the Cockaignes is the winking eagle owl, the motto is “In arte voluptas” (There is pleasure in art). The language is a mixture of Old German, Latin, Ancient Greek and medieval-looking fantasy expressions, the process of a clan is always the same. After an official part with the ritualized “acts of office,” there follows a cultural part in which everyone in the audience is allowed to perform something. The “Fechsung” can consist of a poem, a travel report, a song or a piece on an instrument.
Around 40 gentlemen of good age gathered at the “Burg” on Sudetenstrasse this Thursday. There is chili con carne, “Lethe” (wine) and “Quell” (beer). Ritter Abakion alias Frank Dietrich, as Fechsung, has prepared a partly interesting and partly amusing lecture about rafting. “My father, my brother and my brother-in-law were and are with Schlaraffen. There was no question for me that I would join,” says the Munich native about his reasons for joining the club.
When you sit comfortably together after the performances, you can talk about everything except professional matters, politics, religion, football and women. “What someone is working on has no bearing on the matter, and the other topics could cause controversy,” explains Dietrich. It is forbidden to do business with each other and insult each other. “The atmosphere is one of friendship. “Men are gathered here who don’t want to prove anything to anyone, but who want to make each other happy with their serious or humorous contributions,” says the local Schlaraffia flyer.
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For someone who is there for the first time, the “ceremonials” may seem strange, says Sebb. But over time you will feel comfortable in this group where you don't take yourself too seriously, where you laugh heartily and where the joy of art, music and literature is in the foreground. Because Schlaraffen rarely go public, they acquire new members mainly through word of mouth. Anyone who brings an interested party with them acts as their “sponsor”.
Founded by theater people in Prague – women are admitted a few times a year
The Isarwinklers are now running out of young talent, which the long forced break during the corona pandemic also contributed to. One of the few – and youngest – newcomers is 50-year-old Thomas Schulz. The teacher reports that they watch the meetings as “pilgrims” three to five times. “When I decided to join, I had to apply with a fencing. For me that was a short CV in poem form. I passed the exam and was appointed a squire,” says the Murnauer.
After further testing, Schulz was promoted to Junker. Now he is waiting for his knighthood. It takes two to three years to get it, he says.
As a knight, you think of a suitable name, usually related to your hobby or profession. Then you are an integral part of the men's association. “There is an important social component to us,” adds Sebb. “The older ones are not written off. They are valued and respected,” says the 84-year-old. Until the end of April you have the opportunity to join the illustrious society without obligation at one of its clans every Thursday from 8 p.m. The Schlaraffen traditionally take a break until the beginning of October. The reason for this is that the founders, the Prague theater people, went on tour in the summer. By the way, women are also allowed a few times a year, namely at the “Krystallinen”, relaxed gatherings without the usual ceremony.
TANJA LÜHR
Info: Werner Sebb can be reached by email at werner.sebb@outlook.com.
By the way: Everything from the region is also available in our regular Wolfratshausen-Geretsried newsletter.