Fraternitas Vanenica
Encyclopedia
Fraternitas Vanenica is Latvian all-male student fraternity (corporation
) which was founded in Munich
, Germany
on June 20, 1947. It is the youngest Latvian student fraternity.
Its name, translated from Latin, means Brotherhood of Vanema. Vanema was ancient land in Latvia (Kurzeme
) in late Iron age
.
Fleeing from the second soviet occupation, more than 150 000 Latvians emigrated from Latvia in the years 1941-1945. Most of them spended some time in Germany. Thus many young people wanted to restore their studies in German universities.
Fraternitas Vanenica was partly established on the base of Latvian student society in Munchen. Fraternity admitted Latvian students mostly from Munich universities.
These years was very active. Despite financial problems and poverty in post-war Germany, Fraternitas Vanenica was able to admit new members and to educate them in the spirit of pre-war Latvian student fraternities.
and other western countries. Also members of Fraternitas Vanenica moved to USA and on June 21, fraternity restored it's work in USA, with headquarters in New York
. Also many members later moved to Venezuela
and established there autonomous group of the fraternity.
In those years fratenity admitted Latvian students from American and Venezuelan universities and colleges.
Almost all Latvian student fraternities which renewed their work in exile, experienced the same problems. But despite threats of asimilation and lack of funds, student fraternities was one of the symbols of once independent Latvia. They helped to maintain Latvian language
and culture in Latvian exile society and also retained more than 100 years old traditions of Latvian student fraternities.
, Latvia regained it's independence. Many Latvian student fraternities restored their work in Latvia as early as 1989.
Fraternitas Vanenica was exile organization so it moved to Latvia in 1992 and fully started work on September 24. Soon global centre (presidium) was also moved to Riga
. It is registered with University of Latvia, but members ar admitted from all Latvian universities.
In 2002 Fraternitas Vanenica bought its own house in Riga, Artilērijas street 54.
Today members of Fraternitas Vanenica is mostly economist
s, financiers, auditors and historians.
Corporation (university)
Corporation refers to different kinds of student organizations worldwide.Generally, universities in the various European countries have student organizations called corporations. The name is derived from the Latin corporatio meaning a body or group...
) which was founded in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on June 20, 1947. It is the youngest Latvian student fraternity.
Overview
Fraternitas Vanenica is Latvian all-male, lifelong fraternity. It has two mottos:Veritati, humanitati, virtuti and Tēvijai, Pienākumam, Draudzībai. (For fatherland, duty, and friendship). It's colours are: Green, Red and Silver.Its name, translated from Latin, means Brotherhood of Vanema. Vanema was ancient land in Latvia (Kurzeme
Kurzeme
Kurzeme is the Latvian name for Courland, a historical region of Latvia.It may also refer to:* Kurzeme District, Riga, an administrative district of Riga, Latvia* Kurzeme Region, a planning region of Latvia...
) in late Iron age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
.
Early years
Fraternitas Vanenica was founded by 18 Latvian students (mostly from Latvian University) who in years of war and after it arrived in Germany as refugees.Fleeing from the second soviet occupation, more than 150 000 Latvians emigrated from Latvia in the years 1941-1945. Most of them spended some time in Germany. Thus many young people wanted to restore their studies in German universities.
Fraternitas Vanenica was partly established on the base of Latvian student society in Munchen. Fraternity admitted Latvian students mostly from Munich universities.
These years was very active. Despite financial problems and poverty in post-war Germany, Fraternitas Vanenica was able to admit new members and to educate them in the spirit of pre-war Latvian student fraternities.
USA period
In the 1950 most of Latvian refugees started moving to USA, CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and other western countries. Also members of Fraternitas Vanenica moved to USA and on June 21, fraternity restored it's work in USA, with headquarters in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Also many members later moved to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and established there autonomous group of the fraternity.
In those years fratenity admitted Latvian students from American and Venezuelan universities and colleges.
Almost all Latvian student fraternities which renewed their work in exile, experienced the same problems. But despite threats of asimilation and lack of funds, student fraternities was one of the symbols of once independent Latvia. They helped to maintain Latvian language
Latvian language
Latvian is the official state language of Latvia. It is also sometimes referred to as Lettish. There are about 1.4 million native Latvian speakers in Latvia and about 150,000 abroad. The Latvian language has a relatively large number of non-native speakers, atypical for a small language...
and culture in Latvian exile society and also retained more than 100 years old traditions of Latvian student fraternities.
Fraternitas Vanenica today
In 1991, with collapse of Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, Latvia regained it's independence. Many Latvian student fraternities restored their work in Latvia as early as 1989.
Fraternitas Vanenica was exile organization so it moved to Latvia in 1992 and fully started work on September 24. Soon global centre (presidium) was also moved to Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. It is registered with University of Latvia, but members ar admitted from all Latvian universities.
In 2002 Fraternitas Vanenica bought its own house in Riga, Artilērijas street 54.
Today members of Fraternitas Vanenica is mostly economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
s, financiers, auditors and historians.