Schlaraffia
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 Schlaraffia facts

• The Schlaraffen, members of a men's organization (many of a mellower age and in secure positions), meet in midwinter (October 1 – April 30) once per week in their Schlaraffen castle (equipped in the style of a knight's tavern from the Middle Ages) for "Sippungen" (gatherings which take place in the fixed ceremonial form of a knight's play)
• In doing so, everyday life is satirized as well as kept alive through recitations of literary and musical forms
• An antiquated language with its own vernacular for everyday things (Schlaraffen Latin — for example; "powder pot" for tobacco pipe, "gasoline horse" for car, "castle monster" for mother-in-law) gives the Sippungen their own humorous note
• The approximately 280 "reychs" (local clubs) stay in close contact with one another
• Each Schlaraffe is always welcome in every reych in the world
• Reychs currently exist in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Sweden, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Thailand, South Africa, and Australia
• The total number of Schlaraffen amounts to about 11,000
• New members must be introduced by a Schlaraffe (godfather), complete a probationary period before a general vote is recorded, and start their career as knave, which leads from the position of squire to knight
• Important artists were and are Schlaraffen (for example, Franz Lehár, Gustl Bayrhammer, Richard Bruno Heydrich, Leopold Matzal, Peter Rosegger and many more)
• Their 'mascot' is the eagle owl (bubo bubo) symbolizing wisdom, virtue and humor(the owl itself presents knowledge and wisdom)