Skatia
The "Skatia von 1864 zu Bremen" is the oldest skat club in Bremen and the oldest known skat club in Germany.
history
In 1864, according to oral tradition, some Bremen merchants, ship owners, underwriters , lawyers and doctors met for the first time to exchange ideas over a meal and drink followed by a game of Skat. It was an ancient tradition in Bremen to discuss the economic and social situation and possible solutions at social gatherings and to forget the worrying events of the time for a few hours while playing.
In the United States, the war of secession continued, which favored Bremen's merchant shipping, but emigration and the associated cheap imports declined. In the north, Denmark lost control of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg to Austria in the German-Danish War . The advantage of free trade, persistently defended by Bremen, has waned since Hanover and Oldenburg joined the German Customs Union . Bremen could not make sufficient use of the momentum of technical progress, which accelerated trade with the use of steam power. The first railroad went to Hanover in 1847and since 1863 to Bremerhaven. The first regular mail steamer line between North America and mainland Europe was followed by the founding of Norddeutscher Lloyd in 1857 . The electric telegraph based on the Morse system ensured faster message transmission. In 1864 the new stock exchange in Bremen was inaugurated. These were the years of the early days in Germany.
The Bremen Skat Round distributed their cards around 50 years after the game of Skat was first mentioned in Germany. Bremen had also played the card game L'Hombre before , which, like Schafkopf, is one of the forerunners of Skat . As in other places, the Bremen “Skatia” developed its own Skat rules, which are still played today, deviating from the “General German Skat Rules” (1903) and the International Skat Rules. The "Skatia" does not belong to the German Skat Association , which was founded in 1899 . Skat is a strategy game for at least three people with a hand of 32 cards. The remainder of the two face-down cards remaining when the cards are dealt forms the Skat (ital. Scarto = cards put away).
For the 100th anniversary of the “Skatia” summarized its club and game rules, the most important events and a hand-signed list of members and honorary members: The “Skatia zu Bremen von 1864” has about 30 members, the president from among its members choose. In addition, honorary members can be appointed. The Circle of Friends meets on the last Wednesday of every month for a social get-together over eating, drinking, smoking and playing Skat. The maintenance of contacts and the community are the reason and occasion for the Skat round. Profits serve a good maritime cause. You will be referred to the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People. Once a year the members gather for the annual dinner. The costs are paid through a contribution. The invitations are issued by the President, who also arranges the meetings and determines the amount of the contribution. Excused and unexcused absence are subject to a fine in the common cash register. New additions are made at the proposal of a member. To be able to play skat is required. After participating as a guest three times, the members decide on admission. Each new member enters his or her handwritten form in the “Skatia” club book donated in 1964. (Active members who already belonged to Skatia in 1964, with retroactive effect up to the date of entry in 1949)
The tradition of “Skatia” is passed on from the members, from friends to friends, often from father to son. The club still includes representatives from business and politics in Bremen, merchants, bankers, lawyers and doctors. The monthly meetings begin at 6 p.m. with the game of Skat, followed by dinner at 7.30 p.m. The members have to appear in tuxedos at the annual meetings. The meetings took place regularly in Haus Schütting of the Bremen Chamber of Commerce (IHK for Bremen and Bremerhaven). The President welcomed the participants at 6 p.m. A new member has to give a humorous speech on the "Skatia". A drink is served before the meal. The menu follows. Goose is traditionally served with dumplings, red cabbage and Brussels sprouts. It is customary for one member to donate the white wine and another the red wine. The game of Skat begins at around 11 p.m.
Text and research with the kind support of Dr. Lydia Niehoff .