How does a visit work?

You come as a guest, listen and watch. The evening — the Sippung (the ceremonial gathering) — has a set, humorous framework with artistic contributions. You’re not expected to perform.

Do I have to perform something?

No. Contributions are welcome but voluntary. As a guest, you’re free to simply listen.

Is Schlaraffia a club, a secret society, or something else?

Schlaraffia is a registered fellowship — not a secret society. The local chapters are legally associations; the shared game gives them their special character.

Why is the language sometimes unusual?

Its own vocabulary is part of the playful spirit. We explain the important words in the glossary — you don’t need to know them beforehand.

What is a Reych, a Sippung, an Einritt?

A Reych is a local Schlaraffia chapter, a Sippung is its ceremonial evening, and an Einritt is the admission of a new member. More in the glossary.

Schlaraffia is a men’s fellowship. We explain openly what that means on the page “Schlaraffia and women.”

Do politics, religion or business interests play a role at Schlaraffia?

No — at least not as the purpose or defining theme of the shared evening. Schlaraffia deliberately does not see itself as a political, religious or business association. Party politics, religious or ideological disputes, and professional self-interest are not meant to set the tone. At its heart are friendship, humor, art, wit and community.

How do I write to a Schlaraffen chapter if I’m just curious?

You don’t need to craft a perfect message. A short, friendly and honest note is plenty. Just write that you came across the chapter, would like to get to know Schlaraffia, and would be glad to hear back about a possible visit. A first message doesn’t need to do more than that.

Do I have to commit to anything for a first visit?

No. A first visit is precisely there to get to know Schlaraffia in the first place. You don’t commit to membership or to any further steps. Only once you sense, after several impressions, that the community really interests you does the question of a further path arise.

What happens if, after the first visit, I realize it’s not for me?

Then that’s completely fine. That’s exactly what the no-obligation getting-acquainted period is for. Schlaraffia is not a duty but an invitation to meet. If, after one or several visits, you feel the form, the people or the atmosphere don’t suit you, you owe no justification.

How long does the Pilger (pilgrim) or getting-acquainted period usually take?

The getting-acquainted period generally follows a set sequence. As a rule, an interested visitor first attends Schlaraffia three times as a Pilger (“pilgrim” — a guest on the path toward membership). If there is basic interest on both sides afterward, six further visits follow as a Prüfling (a candidate under consideration). Only then does the question of admission arise. So typically it’s about nine visits before possible admission. Importantly, this time is not a formality but a genuine, mutual getting-acquainted period: the visitor checks whether Schlaraffia, the people and the particular chapter truly suit him — and the chapter, in turn, considers whether the fit feels right, humanly and culturally.

First visit — what should I know?

The good news: you don’t have to know everything on your first visit. You don’t have to master a special language, perform anything, play a role, or pass any test. A first visit is there for exactly that: to look, experience, ask, and find out whether this particular world makes you curious.

Vignette: der erste Besuch bei Schlaraffia

Before the visit: getting in touch

The first step is usually a short message to the particular location. Through the location search you’ll find Schlaraffia communities in various countries and towns. There you can clarify whether and when a visit is possible.

Just write that you’d like to get to know Schlaraffia. Nothing more is needed at the start.

Do I have to prepare?

Not extensively. It helps if you know beforehand, roughly, that Schlaraffia is a humor-loving fellowship of friends with a world of play of its own. You don’t need to bring more than that.

You don’t have to memorize terms. You don’t have to know what every ritual means. You don’t have to show up perfectly prepared. Openness is enough.

What do I wear?

That can vary by location. For a first visit, neat, respectful attire is usually the right direction. It’s not about dressing up in costume. Guests don’t arrive as finished Schlaraffen and shouldn’t pretend to be.

If you’re unsure, ask beforehand. That’s completely normal.

What happens at the beginning?

You’ll usually be welcomed and introduced. Someone will explain roughly what to expect. Many things feel unfamiliar the first time: terms, sequences, roles, turns of phrase. That’s not a mistake. Schlaraffia is deliberately different from the everyday.

You’re allowed to observe. You’re allowed to ask. You don’t have to place everything right away.

Do I have to say or perform anything?

No. As a guest, you don’t have to perform anything on your first visit. No one expects a speech, a poem, a song or a witty contribution.

Schlaraffia does live on members contributing with humor, art, wit or small pieces. But that’s nothing a guest has to deliver right away. At first, it’s all about getting acquainted.

What if I don’t understand anything?

Then you’re like most people. On a first evening, not every detail has to be clear — the overall impression matters more. How to stay inwardly at ease with that initial uncertainty is described in detail on the page “Your first time at Schlaraffia — what to expect.”

What is not at the center of Schlaraffia

Anyone visiting Schlaraffia need not expect an evening full of political debate, fundamental religious questions or business self-promotion. Schlaraffia deliberately does not see itself as a place for party politics, ideological proselytizing or professional networking. At the center are community, humor, culture, wit and a shared evening that deliberately creates distance from the usual daily grind.

What should I pay attention to?

Pay less attention to individual terms and more to the overall feeling:

Are you welcomed warmly?
Is there humor that speaks to you?
Do you sense community?
Does curiosity arise?
Can you imagine coming back?
Does the evening feel like a real counterpoint to the everyday?

These questions matter more than the instant explanation of every detail.

Am I allowed to be critical?

Of course. A first visit is not a sales event where you have to find everything wonderful. Schlaraffia is idiosyncratic. Some things feel foreign the first time. That’s allowed.

Being critical is no problem. What matters is whether, alongside the puzzlement, interest also arises. If something both surprises you and makes you curious, a second visit is often worthwhile.

What happens after the first visit?

That depends on the particular location and on your impression. Maybe you’ll want to come again. Maybe you’ll have questions. Maybe you’ll realize it’s not a fit. All of that is fine.

Schlaraffia is not a decision you have to force after one evening. If it fits, it grows with repetition.

The most important advice

Don’t come with the demand to understand everything at once. Come with the willingness to let something unusual take effect.

Schlaraffia doesn’t explain itself fully in advance. It shows itself in the experience: in the atmosphere, the humor, the people, the shared evening. That’s exactly why a first visit is worthwhile.