Cisiojani im Spannungsfeld zwischen Zählen und Erzählen

Abstract

The mnemonics common since the 13th century to memorise the fixed holidays of the calendar year by simultaneous pronunciation and counting are referred to as Cisiojani. The Steyrer syllable Cisiojanus and the word Cisiojani of the Solothurn Anonymous and the Salzburg Monk were analysed. What creative and narrative means were used to comply with the formal requirements and support memorability? While the latter is achieved by means of lyrical poetry in the two more formally determined Cisiojani, in the Solothurn Anonymous, this is achieved through more comprehensible semantics and clearer narrativity. Overall, however, the narrative is dominated by memory aids for counting.