Commers

COMMERS (from Latin commercium), the German term for the German students social gatherings held annually on occasions such as the breaking-up of term and the anniversary of the universities founding. A Commers gathering consists of speeches and songs and the drinking of unlimited quantities of beer. The arrangements are governed by officials (Chargierte) elected by the students from among themselves. Strict rules as to drinking exist, and the chairman after each speech calls for what is called a salamander. All rise and having emptied their glasses hammer three times on the table with them. On the death of a student, his memory is honored with a salamander, the glasses being broken at the close.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.