Commers

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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 consists of speeches and songs and the drinking of unlimited quantities of beer. The arrangements are governed by officials (Char gierte) 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 to atoms at the close.

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This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.