Schlaraffia

The Schlaraffen, an exclusively male organization (many men of a mellower age and in secure positions), meet in midwinter (1 October – 30 April in the northern hemisphere) 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).

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.

Reichs 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.

New members must be introduced by a Schlaraffe (godfather), complete a probationary period before a general vote is recorded, and start their career as a 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).