Zisadaag

September 28 is the celebration of the Festival of Zisa, patroness of Zizarim (now Augsburg). Also, in the 1st century BCE, the Romans, under Titus Annius inauspiciously picked this date for an attempt to seize Zizarim. They discovered during the siege that there were far more people, including warriors, in the city (due to the festival) than they had anticipated, and the Romans suffered a major defeat.

Her presence is still visible in present-day Augsburg, where the city symbol is the pine cone, which is also a symbol of Zisa. The Catholic Church eventually burgled Her likeness as Mary the Undoer-of-Knots (Maria Knotenlöserin), and in that context, Her presence is seen in a painting that has recently been restored in the Rathaus in Augsburg. The Church of St. Peter am Perlach stands on the grounds of Her temple at Zisenberg in Augsburg.

Information can be found (mostly in Latin) within Grimm’s “Teutonic Mythology” (I, 291-299). I believe Nigel Pennick wrote about it in one of the volumes of “Tyr,” but I am not at home to check which volume and page numbers. Also, James Chisholm includes it in “Grove and Gallows” (page 63 or 73, again, I am not at home to check the exact page number).

This is one of Urglaawe’s more important festivals....

Losset uns die Zisa heele!
Hail Zisa!