"Gypsies" were considered dirty, deceitful, too lazy to work, and prone to steal. Lol love my culture. I guess in this way, we are similar. We can be belittled, ostracized and excommunicated for something as little as dropping a cloth. Romani mythology is the myth, folklore, religion, traditions, and legends of the Romani people (also known as Gypsies). Writer and content creator for PA, specializing in phenomena that is sometimes beyond normal scientific understanding. Genetic research has shown that the Roma descend from a single group of people who left northwestern India 1,500 years ago. For Roma, Life in US Has Challenges. We have our own beliefs, culture and traditions. 21. My mission is to help guide people seeking answers in a positive and enlightening way. If it rains at your wedding, it means you will have a happy marriage. I am interested since my great-grandparents (whom I did not know) were from Romania. And there are plenty more Romanian superstitions. This page links together resources at sacred-texts about the folklore of the Roma people. Doesnt everyone strive to fit in, with their families, their friends and communities? Never heard of it, but it sounds interesting! If a person dies, the family will set out food and drinks as an offering to the dead persons spirit. 1. The Romani people (gypsies) have been discriminated against in Europe for centuries. Gypsies may not marry someone if they have the same initials. Despite settling down, the Roma remain one of Europes most disadvantaged ethnic groups, with 80% of Romanies living below the poverty line as of 2016. In the centuries that followed, Romanies spread throughout Europe and, by the 19th century, had migrated to the Americas. Once an item is classed as marime, we avoid or limit contact with that thing. Today, the Romani are a diverse people living in every inhabited continent in the world. History of the Gypsy/Roma . All Rights Reserved. Thanks to your comment on my blog (Dauntless Jaunter), I was able to find yours! In some parts of Eastern Europe, it is said to bring good luck for up to a year after the wedding day. Since then, this custom has been carried on by Gypsies in Romania and is still very much alive today. But worry not, you can undo the damage if you immediately jump three times on one leg and whisper bad luck after each jump! If youve lost something important, put a gall upside down on the window sill, and you will find it. If you do, prepare to wet the bed over the night! We have our own beliefs, culture and traditions. Of course, most of us dont believe in them, but there are people, especially in rural areas, who still live and guide their lives according to these irrational beliefs. This means that all ladies will love you (sorry, ladies, this seems to be a man-only thing! As a child growing up in Bucharest, I got the chance to partake in ancient traditions, thanks to my fascination with rituals and . A pregnant woman should never tie a scarf on her neck, or the baby will be born with the umbilical cord around his neck. 19. No matter what others say about it, I will always love it. God bless you for sharing these! Are you getting ready to play the lottery, In virtually every society, ghost stories exist. The superstition that a person should not wear new shoes on a Sunday is also widely held, and it is believed that the Devil was created when God made the first pair of new shoes. Some people can give you the evil eye (Deochi in Romanian) if they are either envious of you or overly admiring. If you have your mouth opened while conceiving your baby, you will give birth to a girl. The word is made of two Slavic language words, namely 'bogu' meaning 'god' and 'dan' meaning 'given.'. And when it comes to the bad ones, theres even a funnier way to fix them or cancel them. Though their exact origins are unclear, central India is a notable point of origin. Pilgrimages still take place every year at the Church of Les Saintes Maries and Gypsies from all over Europe congregate together. The traditions of Gypsy weddings go back a long way. I didnt think about considering it as a superstition, but you made it clear that it is indeed since theres no medical basis behind this. Gypsy law's superstitions repair the holes in simple ostracism that Gypsies confront, en- . While you wont see many people jumping around after stepping on sewer caps, there are other superstitions that people really believe in. If you want to make a man fall in love with you, then make him eat a cake in which youve put a piece of your nail. Therefore, you can attract not only diseases, but unfortunate events such as broken bones to yourself by how you think or interact with other individuals. The Romanians have many superstitions about when the looming arrival of death will occur, some of which include the unexpected breaking of furniture or mirrors. Never leave your purse on the floor, or else you will lose money. I read people get upset with others opening windows on busses for ventilation. In August 29, 2002, Madalin Voicu, one of the most well known Romani politicians in Romania and one of two Romani representatives in the Romanian parliament, made the following statement: Our gypsies are stupid. Published March 26, 2017 | By shirleytwofeathers. Dont spit it, go back home walking backwards, go to your bed, and there spit the water out of your mouth; at night you will dream your chosen one bringing you a glass of water. Calling it devil can help dilute any negative effects it may have. This is one of the biggest events of a Romanian wedding: it's usually close friends who "kidnap" the bride and take her to a club or restaurant to party a little bit. To live a Gypsy life is to live in constant fear of the outside world, which is marime. I did know my Hungarian great-grandmother, who did this all the time. Gypsy is a name for the Romani people, an ethnic group of South Asian origin spread throughout Europe and northern Africa.They can be divided into many groups distinguished by language or dialect, culture, and way of life. If we are ill, and must refer to our periods, we call them things. Avoiding dirtiness impacts how we, Because certain conditions are marime, those who suffer from these conditions are given special treatment. If you hit the net of a spider, you will meet a new friend. 31. 2. Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: Paranormal Authority is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and may earn from qualifying purchases. If you have a distant relative who is a Gypsy, this does not mean we would consider you to be one too. A pregnant woman mustn't wear new shoes; if she does she will be putting herself or her baby in a coffin. ), 28. And if you ever happen to see a rat, make sure you dont call it by its proper name! 64. This word in Romanian means 'bushy beard.'. are the ones who do not follow our cleaning rules and rituals. And if you enjoy these Romanian Superstitions, you will surely enjoy the funny Romanian expressions that I shared a while ago. You can be settled in a house and still be Romany, . Its important to note that many of the nations criticized for discriminating against the Romani are largely Christian nations, i.e. I found this while researching Romanian culture. 5. But yes, keeping windows open and drafts will give you a cold, ear ache, tooth ache, headache its just bad, no matter if its 35 degrees Celsius outside or 10. The word means 'god-given' or ' gift of God .'. Seeing an ambulance brings bad luck unless you pinch your nose right away or hold your breath until you see a brown or a black dog. A baby keeps its luck in the grimy lines of its hands. If you write an exam with the same pen with which you have prepared yourself for the exam, the pencil will remember the answers. . In spite of myths of Roma immorality . Origins Of The Gypsy/Roma/Rom History . Do not change the bedding on a Friday, or you will have a bad dream that night. But you can easily undo the damage if you walk three steps backward. At least one window should always be opened at a funeral to allow the spirit to leave. There are an estimated 12 million Romani people, but rather than being confined . Roms, Romanies). They believe that the world is round and they must keep traveling in order to maintain balance with it. One that goes for both claims that if you dont eat all the food on your plate, you will marry an ugly person. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Never wish Good luck to a fisherman. Gypsy rain is thought by some Romani people to be a sign that the rain is washing away their sins. Romani People. Gypsies believe that when someone gossips about you, they are actually casting spells on you. Bad luck to walk under a ladder. We believe that some people can be so marime that just by spending time with them, you can become marime by association; this is another reason why you will not be accepted into a group of Romany individuals. Gypsy families are often quite large, with many children and extended family members living together in one home. 7) Criminal Justice System. 11022198. The Romani language is. Some are practised only in remote Northern villages, whilst others are very much alive within Romania's vibrant beating heart: Bucharest. These nomadic Roma (gypsies) traveled in horse-drawn, brightly-colored wagons and sought jobs conducive to a transient lifestyle. The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. ), rodents, reptiles or anything which touches the ground are all marime. Isnt there something about draftswindows kept shut to prevent drafts which . Because of this distrust, European nations over the centuries have enslaved, expelled, imprisoned, and executedRomani people. Gypsies are a group of nomadic people who typically travel from place to place with their families. Gypsies are primarily known for their colorful clothing, horses, and caravans, but also have a deep culture of family values and traditions. I find these very funny and kind of crazy because it seems like every little thing will go wrong! We've all heard the legend of the Banshee, whose scream you hear before someone close to you dies. 4. Frog's spawn thrown over the left shoulder for good luck. 35. Other European nations used their legal system to oppress the Roma, passing laws prohibiting Romanies from buying land or securing stable professions. A baby born at full moon will be lucky. 29. Make sure you never leave a knife with the sharp part upward on the table: this means that there will be a huge scandal in your family! Gypsy and Traveler Groups in the United States. We have the itchy hand one, but it could be either hand and means you will receive money. Even numbers are for the deceased and you dont want her to believe that youd prefer to see her dead, would you now? One of the most famous superstitions is that if you are carrying your handbag, it will make any woman or child who passes you by give birth to a baby girl. [Answered]. The Romanies are a nomadic culture which originated in India during the Middle Ages. Gypsies have long been a target for discrimination and are a marginalized community, even in Romania. Guess you have never heard of Indian Superstitions . Among these traditions are the Roma's inclusion of extended family members, respect for the elderly, and . With these in mind, lets check out some of the funniest Romanian superstitions I can think of. Gypsies are highly suspicious of outsiders and vet everyone who they come into contact with. Gypsy History and Folklore. Cups would go first, in the cleanest water, because you put your mouth directly to a cup. This blog is part of the Amazon Associates program, meaning that we will get a commission for products you purchase by following our links to Amazon.com. He can appear quickly, happy with the availability of the person who wishes to be initiated into the secrets of witchcraft. Theres a lot of death based ones like sleeping with a fan on or whistling at night, yet playing with fire only causes wetting the bed??? On your wedding night, dont change your slippers, or you will change your man. It is a Romanian gypsy custom to do homage to the Wodna Zena, or "Water-Woman" by spilling a few drops of water on the ground after filling a jug, and it is regarded as an insult to offer drink without observing this ceremony. This will make your protecting angel to run away from you. I suppose that superstitions can be international, even though many of the ones you mentioned are indeed unique and funny. (Good way to convince the kids to eat all their food, eh?). The Roma, or the Romani, generally referred to as gypsies (despite being considered a pejorative term), are a diverse group of traditionally nomadic people originating from the region of Northern India.Currently, the Romani people are found worldwide, mainly concentrated in Europe, with an approximate population of 10 to 12 million.. Small Romani populations are also found in . Reading these superstitions just reminded me of him. We are an ethnic race who can trace our origins back to India. In fact, one Gypsy may consider another Gypsy not to actually be a Gypsy if they do not follow our, set rules and customs. Romani Gypsy from Kosovo goes to The Panjab region of Northwest India to have her DNA tested and discover the land of her forefathers. As a displaced people targeted by popular society, Romani culturefocuses heavily on family, customs, and self-governance. There are also many myths about lusty women, scarf . Then theres all the superstitions about drafts. Never get out of a house on another door except for the one you entered, as it will bring bad luck. Or if your rheumatism kicks in, the weather is going to change. English Travelers: Fairly amorphous group, possibly formed along same lines as Roaders (see below), but taking shape already in England before . It may also bring good fortune to the family of the bride. what about the (irrational) fear of getting a dog hair in your mouth if you own a dog? 51. 2. Multamesc, gratulos, thank you so much! 14. Gypsies are nomadic people who wander around the world a lot. I checked about 50 ways of asking this but was unable to find this superstition in gypsy folklore or any culture for that matter lol! He explained that his grandfather, who was a Hungarian/ Russian gypsy told him that if a knife was near you ( especially true if it was pointed towards you) the devil would come and push the knife at you. 45. Ears Ringing Meaning Omen, Superstition or Myth? Maybe not a cause of bad luck, but maybe a bad cold? Based on discrimination against the Roma coupled with their migratory culture, school attendance and literacy rates among Romanies have traditionally been low. The man goes to the girl's family and tells the father they would . When I was ill around Christmas time, my family separated my stuff from theirs, feared my toothbrush and wouldnt let me touch anything. These witches recognize their practice as a form . Because Gypsies originally came from India many centuries ago, their languages are rooted in Sanskrit, but with . There is no one way of life for all Gypsies. To Gypsys, dropping your food means you are a bad guest and that there is no respect for the hosts home. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Rumors have long persisted that they blow into town, seduce men and women, and then steal everything in sight, including children. The word gypsy originated in the 16th century and meant Egyptian, since Romanies were initially believed to be from Egypt. Even more so, every Tuesday, you should expect three bad things to happen. 15. These superstitions are gathered from all over the country, so your friend might not be familiar with all of them. Im not Romanian, but I feel Romania is a part of my heart. Believe it or not, superstitions are still very present in our lives here in Romania. 22. Cale: Spanish Gypsies, or Gitanos, are found primarily in the metropolitan centers of the East and West coasts. Some European Romanies remain nomadic, living in camps or caravans and moving from town to town in cars and RVs. Our strict way to life even extends to our thoughts. There was also an understanding that no-one should upset or talk negatively about me. Gypsies believe that bad luck can be brought on by anything from a black cat to the sound of an owl hooting. The inability to definitively nail down specifics also likely influenced the cultural stereotype of Romani "gypsies" that remains prevalent today. Contrary to what Instagram hashtags would have you believe, traveling as a Romany person is highly stressful, because we must still observe our laws, even if they are inconvenient. In reality, being a real Romany Gypsy is not a life of lackadaisical sea-shore living. If there are 13 people in a room at one time, then the one that sits closest to a mirror will die. If you happen to find a horseshoe, youre very lucky and many good things will happen. Roma Milli Marx from the US. I need to give the evil eye to quite a few people! The vast majority of Romany laws revolve around the belief that the universe is separated into what is clean and what is dirty (marime). April 06, 2011 8:00 PM. However, we do have generalised categories of marime things. Nevertheless, it seems 16 centuries of history of the Gypsy people are difficult to completely erase, and the ancient lifestyle survives to this day: A People Without a Country: The Gypsies. But, we are not interested in that. Eating chicken daily will turn you into a pecker. If you leave leftovers on your plate, you will marry an ugly wife/husband. If you kill the bee, then the visit will be an unpleasant one and bad luck will haunt you all day. I love the one about keeping thread in your mouth while you sew. Ethnic Gypsies are the descendants of diverse groups of people who were assembled in northern India as a military force to resist the eastward movement of Islam. They also believe the gossip will come back to them three times as strong; this is why they never gossip. If you start arranging the bed, never stop before finishing because it brings bad luck. Or if your rheumatism kicks in, the weather is going to change. Multumesc for sharing that. The Black Patch was a huge Gypsy camp in the UK in the early 1900s, but the thousands of residents were forcibly evicted in . The Roma culture has a rich oral tradition, with an emphasis on family. 22. During spring, if you go to a party, take a sip of water. Gypsies are highly suspicious of outsiders and vet everyone who they come into contact with. 26. I take back all the times that I wished I was some sort of Casanova;) I guess I am fortunate that women arent falling head over heels for me often? Danior. 1. She would take me catching the illness as evidence that I was thinking badly about her while she was sick. In Serbian and Bulgarian folklore, rain on ones wedding day is said to bring a lifetime of happiness with their spouse. Is bad luck if you throw the garbage after the sunset Again, as a New Yorker, I am always throwing my trash outside after sunset, so it can be collected the next morning. If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn, you will not be cold all winter. Romanies/gypsies are also expected to support the larger Romani community by attending events within the community such as weddings, christenings, and funerals. Another common misconception is the belief that Gypsies openly accept anyone into their networks; this is false. Guessing at the crystal ball. Come into contact with will go wrong the Panjab region of Northwest India have..., because you put your mouth directly to a party, take sip... 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Attending events within the community such as weddings, christenings, and prone to steal by events... Members living together in one home haunt you all day or else you will marry an ugly wife/husband the of. Year at the Church of Les Saintes Maries and gypsies from all over Europe congregate together note many... Expect three bad things to happen after the wedding day is said to bring a lifetime happiness... How we, because you put your mouth opened while conceiving your baby, you meet..., with many children and extended family members, respect for the elderly, you! The spirit to leave enjoy these Romanian superstitions, you will give birth to a party, take a of! Cookie settings on this website are set to `` allow cookies romanian gypsy superstitions give. Largely Christian nations, i.e culturefocuses heavily on family some of the outside world, which is.... Find a horseshoe, youre very lucky and many good things will.... Have our own beliefs, culture and traditions dirtiness impacts how we, because certain conditions are,! The itchy hand one, but with `` allow cookies '' to give you the evil eye ( Deochi Romanian! The night bad cold the rain is washing away their sins you can be settled in a house another! Into their networks ; this is false evidence that i was thinking badly her.