Thinking of spending an evening with the Filadelfia (128)? Below you will find what newcomers in the Philadelphia area usually want to know. For anything else, the Kantzler, the chapter's secretary, is happy to help.
When is a Sippung held, and where is the Pennburg?
Home to the Filadelfia is the Pennburg, its castle on the grounds of the Vereinigung Erzgebirge in Warminster, Bucks County (130 Davisville Road, Warminster, PA 18974). During the season the Sippungen in the event calendar are held on Thursdays at 7 p.m., as a rule every other week, and run for roughly two and a half hours. The events page lists every upcoming date.
Can I attend a meeting online?
Yes. Alongside the evenings at the Pennburg, the Filadelfia holds virtual Sippungen on Thursdays at 8 p.m., each lasting about two hours. They have their own themes, from the gymnastics pioneer Friedrich Ludwig Jahn to the eagle and the owl. For anyone who lives far from Bucks County or wants a first impression from the couch, they are an easy way in. Please register as a guest to receive the access details.
What is the Bell Congress?
The Glockenkongress, or Bell Congress, is the chapter's best-known custom: an annual festive meeting in honor of freedom, inspired by the Liberty Bell and founded by Rt Fil-Bis. All Reyche worldwide are invited. Anyone living more than 350 miles away may send in a written contribution instead of attending. Members of the Filadelfia compete out of competition; only guests receive honors. The current date is listed on the events page.
Whom do I contact before my first visit?
Write to the Kantzler, Rt Ruh-Nie, by email, give him a call or fill in the online form for guests; all details are on the contact page. A brief message beforehand is appreciated, so that someone at the Pennburg knows to expect you. Your first visits cost nothing and leave you free to decide later.
Are wives and partners ever invited?
Schlaraffia is a fellowship of men, so the ordinary Thursday Sippungen are for members and male guests. Partners are welcome at special festive evenings. Several evenings each season are held together with the Circle of Friends, among them the Uhubaum ceremony before Christmas, a Feuerzangenbowle in winter and the spring celebration; the dates are in the event calendar.
My German is rusty. Is that a problem?
Not at all. The Sippungen are held in German because the game lives on wordplay, which rarely survives translation. But the Filadelfia welcomes anyone who speaks the language or would like to learn it, and there are few friendlier places to practice than a room that is laughing anyway. Fittingly for Pennsylvania, the chapter's website is also available in Pennsylvania Dutch.
Is there a dress code for guests?
No formal one. Smart casual clothing works well, and while a jacket is a nice touch, nobody will look twice without one. Members appear in their Schlaraffen regalia; visitors stay in their own clothes. Preparing a contribution is not expected. Sit in, listen and enjoy, and if a poem or a song occurs to you on a later Thursday, you will find a grateful audience.
Is there a place to read more about Schlaraffia in general?
Yes. Questions that concern the whole fellowship, for instance its origins in nineteenth-century Prague, the reasons it remains a men's fellowship or the steps from guest to knight, are answered in English at Schlaraffiafriends, the network site of the Schlaraffia chapters. This page sticks to the practical side of a visit to Warminster.
