Par Bricole
Par Bricole is a Swedish Bacchanalian order society for men, combining ceremonial traditions with music, theatre, poetry, and convivial cultural life.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Par Bricole is a Swedish Bacchanalian order society founded in Stockholm on 15 May 1779. It developed from a circle of convivial artists, writers, and associates connected with the poet and songwriter Carl Michael Bellman. The society’s cultural identity draws on Bellman’s humorous and theatrical treatment of Bacchus, as well as on the ceremonial forms and hierarchical symbolism associated with Freemasonry. Unlike a commercial brand, Par Bricole is a membership-based cultural and fraternal institution whose public identity rests on its history, rituals, artistic activities, lodges, and association with Swedish literary and musical heritage. The society’s name comes from the French billiards expression “par bricole,” referring to a shot made by bouncing the ball off a cushion. Within Par Bricole, the phrase has traditionally been interpreted somewhat loosely as meaning “by chance,” “by detours,” or “indirectly.” The abbreviation P.B. is commonly used internally and historically. The organization’s earliest roots can be traced to Bellman’s circle and to mock orders associated with his Bacchic poetry. Historical certificates indicate that Bellman had established several forms of knighthood by 1774, but Par Bricole generally dates its formal existence to 1779, when Olof Kexél was called upon to organize rituals and introduce additional degrees. Duke Charles of Södermanland, the future King Charles XIII, became an early patron. Stockholm remains the mother lodge and the principal institutional center. The society is housed at Bellmanhuset near Urvädersgränd, a location closely connected with its Bellman heritage. Over time, Par Bricole established subsidiary lodges in Gothenburg, Vänersborg, Borås, Malmö, Jönköping, Sundsvall, and Örebro. The first branch, Göta Par Bricole in Gothenburg, was founded in 1801. Later additions extended the society’s geographical reach across several Swedish regions, while preserving the central importance of the Stockholm lodge. Par Bricole’s activities are centered on the spoken arts, music, theatre, ceremony, and communal celebration. Singing has held a particularly important role. During the organization’s first half-century, musical life was expressed primarily through company songs; these traditions later developed through quartet performance and choral music. The order has maintained a substantial choir and has been associated with numerous Swedish composers, singers, conductors, actors, and literary figures. Its membership over the centuries has included prominent cultural and public personalities, although membership itself is restricted to men. The society experienced shifts in emphasis during its history. In the early nineteenth century, its more serious and secretive forms of “higher” bricolerie appeared to be gaining influence. From around 1820, however, convivial and festive elements again became prominent, including the introduction of after-parties known as “Nachspiel.” This combination of ritual, artistic performance, satire, sociability, and celebration remains central to Par Bricole’s distinctive character. Bellman commemoration is another major part of the institution’s identity. In 1829, for the society’s fiftieth anniversary, a bust of Bellman by Johan Niclas Byström was unveiled at Bellmansro on Stockholm’s Royal Djurgården with financial support from Par Bricole. The event helped establish Bellman’s Day on 26 July as an annual public celebration conducted under the society’s leadership. The order also observes 15 May, its founding day, and Barbara’s Day on 4 December, a celebration associated with Bellman’s grandmother Barbara Klein and later given a mythologized Bacchanalian character. Par Bricole remains an active Swedish cultural and fraternal order. Its contemporary profile is defined less by commercial activity than by the preservation and performance of literary, musical, theatrical, and ceremonial traditions. Henrik Mickos is identified in the reference material as Grand Master from 2016, while the Swedish monarch serves as protector of the order. Because publicly available material in the supplied sources provides limited current administrative and membership data, details such as the present membership total, current lodge leadership beyond the Grand Master, finances, and official web address remain unspecified.
History
Par Bricole emerged from the artistic and convivial milieu surrounding Carl Michael Bellman in eighteenth-century Stockholm. Bellman’s Bacchic poetry, especially his humorous depictions of the imagined Order of Bacchus, provided both inspiration and a satirical model for an organization that could combine ceremonial hierarchy with drinking culture, music, poetry, and theatrical play. The early circle included Carl Israel Hallman and other associates who participated in this festive intellectual environment. Historical certificates indicate that Bellman had created several forms of knighthood by 1774, establishing a prehistory for the later order. The society conventionally dates its formal foundation to 15 May 1779, when it met at Källaren Kejsarkronan on Drottninggatan in Stockholm. Olof Kexél was summoned to prepare rituals for new and higher degrees, helping transform the earlier informal and literary conceit into a structured order. Duke Charles of Södermanland, later King Charles XIII, became an early patron. The name Par Bricole was borrowed from French billiards, where it describes a bounced shot. Members traditionally gave the term an informal interpretation connected with chance or indirect movement, although “by detours” is closer to its literal sense. During the late eighteenth century, Par Bricole attracted writers, musicians, actors, composers, civil servants, and other prominent Swedish cultural figures. The order’s membership included such names as Elis Schröderheim, Nils von Rosenstein, Johan Henrik Kellgren, Johan Gabriel Oxenstierna, Bengt Lidner, Abraham Niclas Edelcrantz, Olof Åhlström, Francesco Antonio Uttini, Christopher Christian Karsten, Carl Stenborg, and Edouard Du Puy. Kexél served as master of ceremonies until his death, while Bellman held the important poetic role of the society’s first poet. A second organizational phase began in 1799, when new offices were established, including the office of Grand Master. The order also began to expand beyond Stockholm. Göta Par Bricole in Gothenburg was established in 1801, followed by lodges in Vänersborg in 1839, Borås in 1860, Malmö in 1878, and Jönköping in 1879. Sundsvall was added in 1985 and Örebro in 2017. Stockholm remained the mother lodge and the symbolic center of the organization, later operating from Bellmanhuset near Urvädersgränd. The early nineteenth century brought a temporary increase in the importance of the order’s more solemn and mysterious higher degrees. From approximately 1820, the society moved again toward a more openly convivial style. Festive after-gatherings, called Nachspiel, became part of the order’s social practice. Music and performance remained central, particularly as royal Swedish opera singers and other leading performers became active in Par Bricole during the nineteenth century. Par Bricole’s musical tradition developed from company songs into quartet and choral performance. Its choir was led at different times by Frans Preumayr, Eduard Brendler, Andreas Randel, August Söderman, August Melcher Myrberg, Olle Strandberg, Joseph Dente, Ludvig Ohlsson, and Erik Åkerberg. Later conductors included Håkan Sund, Hans Lundgren, and Hans Kyhle, who led the choir from 1979 to 2007. Ian Plaude is identified as choir leader from 2010. This succession illustrates the order’s long relationship with Swedish musical life. Par Bricole’s anniversaries have also shaped its public cultural role. For the fiftieth anniversary in 1829, the society financed the unveiling of Johan Niclas Byström’s Bellman bust at Bellmansro on Royal Djurgården. The event contributed to the establishment of Bellman’s Day on 26 July, which has since been observed as a public celebration under Par Bricole’s leadership. The order’s principal ceremonial dates also include 15 May and Barbara’s Day on 4 December, the latter associated with Bellman’s grandmother Barbara Klein and transformed within the order into a festive, quasi-Dionysian observance. The society marked its centenary in 1874 with a festive cantata written by Talis Qualis and Ludvig Norman. In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Par Bricole continued as a male cultural and fraternal order with lodges in several Swedish cities. Its activities center on speech, song, theatre, poetry, ritual, and social fellowship. The Swedish king serves as protector, while the supplied reference identifies Henrik Mickos as Grand Master from 2016. Public reference material does not provide enough information to establish current membership figures, detailed governance, finances, or a verified official website.
- 2017
Örebro lodge established
[1]A subsidiary lodge was established in Örebro.
- 2016
Henrik Mickos became Grand Master
[1]Henrik Mickos is identified in the reference material as Grand Master from 2016.
- 2010
Ian Plaude identified as choir leader
[1]Ian Plaude began leading the order’s choir according to the supplied historical reference.
- 1985
Sundsvall lodge established
[1]A subsidiary lodge was established in Sundsvall.
- 1879
Jönköping lodge established
[1]A subsidiary lodge was established in Jönköping.
- 1878
Malmö lodge established
[1]A subsidiary lodge was established in Malmö.
- 1874
Centenary celebration
[1]The order celebrated its centenary with a festive cantata by Talis Qualis and Ludvig Norman.
- 1860
Borås lodge established
[1]A subsidiary lodge was established in Borås.
- 1839
Vänersborg lodge established
[1]A subsidiary lodge was established in Vänersborg.
- 1829
Fiftieth anniversary and Bellman commemoration
[1]Par Bricole supported the unveiling of Johan Niclas Byström’s Bellman bust at Bellmansro, helping establish the annual Bellman’s Day celebration.
Products and positioning
A historic Swedish Bacchanalian and fraternal cultural society positioned around Bellman-inspired conviviality, ceremonial tradition, music, theatre, poetry, and fellowship rather than commercial products.
Product categories. Membership-based cultural and fraternal activities · Ceremonial degree events · Choral and quartet performances · Poetry, theatre, and spoken-word programs · Bellman commemorations and public cultural celebrations
Marketing campaigns
- 1829Bellman’s Day
Sweden
Par Bricole’s support for the unveiling of a Bellman bust at Bellmansro helped establish an annual public celebration on 26 July dedicated to Carl Michael Bellman and his cultural legacy.
Outcome. Bellman’s Day became a recurring public cultural festival conducted under the society’s leadership.
Sources1 sources
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