Deitsch -- Pennsylvania German -- Heathenry
Zisasege 2009
September 27 was the date that Die Urglaawisch Sippschaft vum Distelfink held its annual Zisasege.
The goddess Zisa was the matron goddess of the city of Zizarim (among numerous other spelling options), which is now known as Augsburg. Zizarim was inhabited by the Suevi, who are the precursors of the modern-day Swabians, who, in turn, were one of the contributing tribes to the Pennsylvania German (Deitsch) tribe. Other contributing tribes, such as the Alemanni, appear to have known Her as well.
In the first century BCE, the Romans under Titus Annius laid siege to Zizarim just before Her feast day (September 28). Unfortunately for the Romans, many Swabian warriors were coming to Zizarim for the festival. Thus, the city had a much higher population than expected, and on Her day, the Suevi attacked the Romans and throttled them.
Granted, the Romans years later did take the city, but the battle for Zizarim was a famous loss for Rome. Despite the loss of the city and the subsequent Christian suppression, Her presence remained.
Zisa in the Christian era was depicted as the Virgin Mary with the extra appellation of "Undoer-of- Knots." Images of Her from later centuries indicate that she has the ability to remove obstacles or even to undo Urleeg if one's cause is just. Images of Her in this role have been restored in Augsburg's city hall, though the were from later centuries originally.
Ironically, the Christians have preserved features of this goddess, such as the remover of obstacles for just causes, that would otherwise have been lost. The "maryfied" image of Zisa from the Augsburg city hall is the closest image that we have of the goddess, and it is that image that we use on our statuary until such time as a more Heathen image can be created that still captures the concepts that appear in Augsburg's lore.
She was so widely revered among the Suevi that their dialects called Tuesday "Zistag" not after Ziu but after Her. The Diocese of Augsburg banned the name Zistag and called it "Aftermontag" (After-Monday).
There are quite a few places that bear her name as the root of their modern names. The church of St. Peter am Perlach stands on the grounds of Her temple at Zisenberg in Augsburg.
Her symbol is the pinecone and appears in Augsburg even in some churches. As the pine cone protects the seeds, so does she protect her people. The pinecone symbolizes protection, regeneration, and continuity. Even though Augsburg was eventually conquered by the Romans, the Volk's relationship to Zisa continued, in symbolic form if not conscious form, into the present day.
The pinecone even now appears on the coat of arms of Augsburg.
The goddess Zisa was the matron goddess of the city of Zizarim (among numerous other spelling options), which is now known as Augsburg. Zizarim was inhabited by the Suevi, who are the precursors of the modern-day Swabians, who, in turn, were one of the contributing tribes to the Pennsylvania German (Deitsch) tribe. Other contributing tribes, such as the Alemanni, appear to have known Her as well.
In the first century BCE, the Romans under Titus Annius laid siege to Zizarim just before Her feast day (September 28). Unfortunately for the Romans, many Swabian warriors were coming to Zizarim for the festival. Thus, the city had a much higher population than expected, and on Her day, the Suevi attacked the Romans and throttled them.
Granted, the Romans years later did take the city, but the battle for Zizarim was a famous loss for Rome. Despite the loss of the city and the subsequent Christian suppression, Her presence remained.
Zisa in the Christian era was depicted as the Virgin Mary with the extra appellation of "Undoer-of- Knots." Images of Her from later centuries indicate that she has the ability to remove obstacles or even to undo Urleeg if one's cause is just. Images of Her in this role have been restored in Augsburg's city hall, though the were from later centuries originally.
Ironically, the Christians have preserved features of this goddess, such as the remover of obstacles for just causes, that would otherwise have been lost. The "maryfied" image of Zisa from the Augsburg city hall is the closest image that we have of the goddess, and it is that image that we use on our statuary until such time as a more Heathen image can be created that still captures the concepts that appear in Augsburg's lore.
She was so widely revered among the Suevi that their dialects called Tuesday "Zistag" not after Ziu but after Her. The Diocese of Augsburg banned the name Zistag and called it "Aftermontag" (After-Monday).
There are quite a few places that bear her name as the root of their modern names. The church of St. Peter am Perlach stands on the grounds of Her temple at Zisenberg in Augsburg.
Her symbol is the pinecone and appears in Augsburg even in some churches. As the pine cone protects the seeds, so does she protect her people. The pinecone symbolizes protection, regeneration, and continuity. Even though Augsburg was eventually conquered by the Romans, the Volk's relationship to Zisa continued, in symbolic form if not conscious form, into the present day.
The pinecone even now appears on the coat of arms of Augsburg.
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