What is SubRosaDictum?
The History & Essence
SubRosaDictum was born in 2007 with the vision of creating a space where people could freely and safely explore their deepest desires, fantasies, and identities. The first event took place in Munich in April 2008, and since then, SubRosaDictum has become much more than just a party:
It is a stage, a playing field, a shelter.
This is not about dressing up, but about dressing for who you are – or who you want to be for this magical evening. An expression of your innermost self. Not a carnival of poses, but a serious, sensual game with identity, desire, and transformation. It is not a trend, but a cultural cosmos – for people who don’t want to portray something, but want to be something or already are. Living out your alter ego.
SubRosaDictum is a place for all those who live out their desires visibly. A creative space for secret experiences, for genuine encounters among like-minded people. A safe place – under the rose – to show yourself, to transform yourself, to surrender yourself.
It’s a game among adults.
How it all began
A personal digression
At the end of the 1990s, Munich was a vibrant hotspot for underground electronic culture. Under the name Klub Soda, we organized legendary parties—wild nights that felt like their own little worlds.
Wonderful worlds of sound, light, and escapism.
One day, my close friend Kira asked me:
“Do you want to come to a party this weekend?”
I laughed.
“Dear Kira, we go to parties every weekend.”
But her answer was different:
“This time it’s a special one. And you need something to wear. “
So, a little later, I found myself at a fetish and BDSM event for the first time—and was deeply fascinated from the very first moment.
Fascinated by tolerance.
By respect.
By discretion.
By this mysterious parallel world, a microcosm in which radical openness was combined with an almost ceremonial intensity.
Nothing was judged there—only seen, interacted with, and experienced. People as diverse as their imaginations moved around in a space where diversity was not only accepted but celebrated.
This world had depth. It had style. And it never let me go.
Why the name “SubRosaDictum”?
The name is more than just a title—it’s a promise.
It is composed of two Latin terms:
Sub Rosa – literally: “under the rose”
Since ancient times, the rose has been a symbol of secrecy, trust, and discretion. The root of this expression lies in an ancient mythological tale:
The legend:
The Greek god of love, Eros, gave the god of silence, Harpocrates, a rose as a sign that he would keep the affairs and secrets of the gods. Since then, the rose has been considered a symbol of silence.
In ancient Rome, it was used in private conversations or above conference tables to signal discreet communication—what was said there remained sub rosa, “under the rose.”
Dictum – means: “saying,” “motto,” or “maxim”
It stands for attitude, insight, and the spoken word—consciously chosen, respectfully spoken.
In this context: the silent commitment to oneself, to one’s own truth, to the game.
Together, SubRosaDictum forms a symbolic formula:
A protected space for hidden truths, open fantasies, honest desire—spoken and lived under the sign of the rose.
A space where everything can be said and experienced—as long as it is done with mutual respect.
A place where words carry weight, identities are revealed, and desire is allowed to transform.
