The German Student Drinking Ritual That Sealed Friendship
In student associations, the term "Schmollis" (also: Smollis, Schmolles) is used since before 1795 to initiate a drinking ritual called "Brüderschaft", meaning "brotherhood drinking". Schmollis is confirmed by "Fiducit!" (meaning "It applies") and in the following both parties involved are drinking up. The term is derived from the Latin "sis mihi mollis amicus" (meaning "Be a close friend to me"). Fraternity students that drink Schmollis remain on first-name terms. Many fraternities today have drinking rituals that are closely connected to the medieval academic drinking culture.
In 1821, German author E. T. A. Hoffmann describes in his satirical novel "The Life and Opinions of the Tomcat Murr" scenes from his life, but alienated into the world of cats. The poet's studies at the University of Königsberg from 1792 to 1795 are described in the book where he was introduced to the customs of student life by an experienced "cat" named Muzius. In one scene Muzius says, "I won't allow that, call me you, until we've had a Schmolles drink."
The Distilling Culture
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This story is part of The Distilling Culture, an original literary collection conceived, researched, developed, edited, assembled, and curated by Caroline Porsiel. Comprising more than 150 stories first published between 2022 and 2026, the collection explores the history and culture of drinking through Caroline’s research, interpretation, narrative direction, thematic organization, and overarching creative vision. Published by House Of Applejay, Inc.
The Distilling Culture collection © 2022–2026 Caroline Porsiel. All rights reserved. No claim is made to ownership of the underlying historical facts or traditions. Copyright is claimed in the original writing, interpretation, narrative treatment, selection, coordination, arrangement, presentation, and collection as a whole.
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