# Commercium

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Not to be confused with [Res extra commercium](/source/Res_extra_commercium) or [Commercium (Roman)](/source/Commercium_(Roman)).

The head table of a fraternity commercium in Vienna in the early 1950s

A **commercium** (plural **commercia**) is a traditional academic feast in universities in Central and Northern European countries. In Germany it is called a *Kommers* or *Commers*. It is organised by student fraternities in Germanic and [Baltic countries](/source/Baltic_countries), as well as [Poland](/source/Poland).

At a commercium, tables are often placed in the form of a U or a W, and the participants drink [beer](/source/Beer) and sing [commercium songs](/source/Commercium_songs). Strict traditional rules govern this occasion, although it may integrate theatrical and musical aspects. A commercium is the more formal form of the **tableround**, called *Kneipe* in German.

The term is derived from the French *Commerce* and was used for any sort of noisy event.[1] A Commers gathering consisted of speeches, toasts and songs, sometimes along with arranged pranks The drink of preference is [beer](/source/Beer). The arrangements are governed by officials (*Chargierte*) elected by members of the *[Studentenverbindung](/source/Studentenverbindung)*.[2] The event became more formalized after 1871. German associations like firefighters or [Schützenvereine](/source/Sch%C3%BCtzenverein) started to arrange commercia in the 19th century.[3]

Customs include a salamander or *[Landesvater](/source/Landesvater)*. The guests rise and having emptied their glasses hammer then three times on the table. On the death of a student, his memory may be honored with a *Trauercommers*.[2] The operetta *[The Student Prince](/source/The_Student_Prince)* made German students' drinking habits famous during the prohibition period. In the last years of communist [Eastern Germany](/source/East_Germany), some students managed to arrange celebrations for new fraternities, e.g. Salana Jenensis in [Jena](/source/Jena) and organized commercia on the [Rudelsburg](/source/Rudelsburg).[4]

		- Invitation to a commercium in Eastern Germany 1988

		- Sorority students at a commercium in Riga, 2014

		- Heidelberg Wingolf's hall for commercia and roundtables

## See also

- [Cantus](/source/Cantus)

- [Sitsit](/source/Sitsit)

- [Studniówka](/source/Studni%C3%B3wka)

- [Studentenverbindung](/source/Studentenverbindung)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Duden entry Kommers"](http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Kommers).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EB1911_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EB1911_2-1) One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain): [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). "[Commers](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Commers)". *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 774.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [*Kommunikationsraum Szenekneipe: Annäherung an ein Produkt der Erlebnisgesellschaft*](https://books.google.com/books?id=94byBQAAQBAJ) (in German). Springer-Verlag. 2013-11-11. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9783663080718](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9783663080718).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Kurt U. Bertrams (ed.): *Studentenverbindungen in der DDR.* WJK-Verlag Hilden 2006

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Commercium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercium) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercium?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.