Ūsiņš Usenj Usen

Ūsiņš Who is most likely the same Deity as Jassa (jesień – fall or jesion – ash) was also subject to worship in Moscovy. Whether this was a relict of the Balts having previously occupied such territory or was a native Suavic belief or perhaps some even older recollection is uncertain. In any event, we have a report noted by Ivan Petrovich Sakharov (Skazania Russkago Naroda) and reproduced by V.J. Mansikka (Die Religion der Ostslawen) of an order issued in 1648 to the Voyevoda of Suisk that says the following:

“It has become known to us that in Moscow, especially in the Kreml and the neighborhoods of Kitay, Beliy and Zemlyanoy and outside of the city in cross streets and in the suburbs Cerniya and Yamskiya and in the alleys and cross streets, many people on Christmas Eve have called out “kaleda” and “Usenj” and on the eve of the Epiphany Day [January 5th/Candlemass?] they have called out “plug”… They also gather together for devilish merry-making from Christmas time till the Epiphany Day… And we ordered in Moscow and in the [other] cities and parts to strictly forbid that from now and henceforth people should not cry out “koleda” and “pluga” and “Usenj” in the alleys and in the cross streets and on the farms on Christmas Eve and on the eve of the Epiphany Day and should not sing devilish songs.”

The koleda or kaleda obviously refers to the practice of carolers around the calends. The pluga is anybody’s guess. So we have Ūsiņš in Latvia and Usenj in Moscovy. Here is the really interesting part I leave you with. The following discussion of Usen – the Apache God – comes from the mouth of Geronimo – the most famous Apache chief:

Curiously, the Shoshone Creator God but also Hero is variously referred to as Isa, Issa, Esha, Eesha, Isha. Jessa? Jassa? For other interesting Suavic – Native American Indian connections see here.