Gypsies also believe that they should not wash their hair on Easter Sunday, as this will bring them bad luck. (Who makes these things up???). The list of what we consider to be marime is endless. She would take me catching the illness as evidence that I was thinking badly about her while she was sick. Many of these were recited in my non-Romanian family.. Plus, we have the habit of making up our own superstitions. ), rodents, reptiles or anything which touches the ground are all marime. At the same time, if you spend money on the 1st of the month, expect to have an entire month full of spending! Our focus is not on how but why you have caught certain conditions. Many Romani Gypsies in the real Peaky Blinders came from an area known as The Black Patch (near modern-day Smethwick). An important superstition surrounds the flower bouquets (So make sure to keep this in mind if you offer flowers to a Romanian woman!). Its not good to give animals for free because you will carry them on your back on the other side. Europe has the largest Romani/Gypsy population, home to an estimated 10 to 12 millionRoma, most of whom live in Central and Eastern Europe. Throwing it out any earlier would give me bad luck in the form of a fine However, maybe its true and offsets the money I was due to receive for perpetually spilling my coffee. The nice thing about the Romanian superstitions that I will share in todays article is that theyre mostly funny. Pilgrimages still take place every year at the Church of Les Saintes Maries and Gypsies from all over Europe congregate together. In fact, for a Romany person, using the kitchen items of marime individuals is the fastest route to becoming marime like them. (Vai da mor de curent) My parents would always say if you sneeze someones talking about you, if your left eye twitches youll receive money but if youre right eye twitches youll lose money. We are taught what is marime and what is not from the moment we are born. The horseshoe is also a symbol of the sun, as well as being a protective charm against witches and evil spirits. Definition of Gypsies. The plight of the Romanies is also a major concern of the childrens rights organization UNICEF, which is currently working to increase literacy among Romani children in Europe through home-visitation programs that connect new parents with child education and social services. Why Are Romanians Frowned Upon in Europe? A black cat crossing your path brings bad luck, and so does a priest you meet on the road. Its not good to spill salt on the table, either because you will get into a fight with somebody you know. Never get married in May, or else your marriage will be blown away like the leaves of the trees. 26. Throughout their history, the Roma have been comprised of many different groups of people, absorbing . The Gypsies tend to mix pagan religion with Christian . Photo Credit: GettyImages/AndyRoland.jpg, 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 6 Truths about Jesus Coming into the World, Inspiring Mother Breaks Down after Earning Golden Buzzer with Celine Dion Hit, 7 Ways Anxiety Dominates the Christian Mind. I guess were all a little screwed. Ears Ringing Meaning Omen, Superstition or Myth? Breaking a glass will banish bad luck. Today, the Romani are a diverse people living in every inhabited continent in the world. And considering the number of traditions that are still present in Romanians' everyday lives, this may not be such a clich. Gypsies have many superstitions and traditions that are deeply rooted in their culture. Bogdan. Through her website Divination & Fortune-Telling, she teaches over 60,000 monthly readers how they can perform, improve and promote their Tarot, Lenormand and dream interpretation skills. I was already going to break a few things :-). It may also bring good fortune to the family of the bride. 8. Every family and group of Gypsies has their own traditions and beliefs. . Christians should respond to the Romani community in the same way that they would respond to any other child of Godby doing unto others as youd have done unto you (Luke 6:31), and by remembering thatwhatever you do for the least of your brothers and sisters, you do for the Lord (Matthew 25:40). If you drop the scissors, it means your boyfriend/girlfriend has cheated you. One such tradition is not wearing anything new on Easter Sunday, which they believe will bring bad luck. These terms refer to the same people but viewed and designated differently. At the same time, if you want to have a good year, you must have a lot of money in your pocket on New Years Eve. However, we do have generalised categories of marime things. You will also not get married if somebody will brush your feet with a broomstick. It must have taken a while to collect them all. 60. Once married, the man . 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 there are 13 people in a room at one time, then the one that sits closest to a mirror will die. 5. Photographer explores rituals and traditions of Romania's modern witches. Regarding keeping windows open thats definitely a belief here. Many Roma also follow traditional Romani customs. Women on their. An estimated 1 million Roma live in the U.S. today, some whose ancestors arrived on the land when it was still a British colony. When I was ill around Christmas time, my family separated my stuff from theirs, feared my toothbrush and wouldnt let me touch anything. To break the curse, gypsies will spit three times and then turn around. This has been both a blessing and a curse, as the Gypsies' place in society has oscillated from "tolerated" to "actively persecuted.". If you spend time in their environment, touch their stuff and use their cutlery, you too will become marime. Reading these superstitions just reminded me of him. View gallery. 3. If you start arranging the bed, never stop before finishing because it brings bad luck. 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! We are an ethnic race who can trace our origins back to India. The most heinous accusation was that they kidnapped the young, a charge frequently hurled against Jews as well. We have our own beliefs, culture and traditions. You don't kill a gypsy by cutting him in ten pieces-you will only make ten more gypsies.-Romanian Proverb. However, arent all societies and cultures about acceptance? Is there a superstition for a local plant that has white coin shaped leaves on its branches? If a cat washes her face and paws in the hallway, it means guests are coming. Gypsy Traditions and Customs. Its a sign of bad luck if you throw the garbage after the sunset. 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? Gypsy History and Folklore. This was in the heroic period of the study of folklore, when devoted scholars built up the field from scratch. If you kill the bee, then the visit will be an unpleasant one and bad luck will haunt you all day. Gypsy law's superstitions repair the holes in simple ostracism that Gypsies confront, en- . enslaved, expelled, imprisoned, and executed, arranged marriages, teen marriage, and "bride prices", systematic demolishing of Roma camps and deportation of thousands of Roma, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, The absence of Romani information on census returns. The Romani were nomadic when they departed India during the Middle Ages. Man, seems like anything you say or do could bring you bad luckha, ha! The Romani people (gypsies) have been discriminated against in Europe for centuries. Get the latest info & news from the Paranormal Authority crew. On a final note, we should never doubt the ability of people to embrace acceptance. Hello! I was traveling in Transylvania, Romania and stopped at a local village to see an ancient castle tourist site. Then theres all the superstitions about drafts. 33. If you have a distant relative who is a Gypsy, this does not mean we would consider you to be one too. 13. One tradition is that you should put a spoon in your mouth and lean over the sink, or try drinking a glass of water upside-down. 12. 55. ), 28. I guess in this way, we are similar. Valeriu Nicolae and Hannah Slavik 1. Unfortunately, Ive never heard of this superstition, yet it doesnt surprise me at all. In particular, community leaders and courts of elders are responsible for adjudicating conflicts and administering punishments within their particular Romani group. Ive heard so many strange sayings in Romania, let alone the Gypsy folklore, which is extremely colorful and full of magic. A Romanian Gypsy woman whose 10-year-old daughter just gave birth in Spain says she's delighted to have a new granddaughter and doesn't understand why the birth has shocked anyonelet alone . Because Gypsies originally came from India many centuries ago, their languages are rooted in Sanskrit, but with . Gypsies believe that when someone gossips about you, they are actually casting spells on you. 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. Also, when you sit at the table, make sure you dont sit on the corner as you will never get married. Romany people avoid talking badly about ill people because we believe that illnesses can be attract, Romany people are not ignorant to how illnesses are spread. Roma, singular Rom, also called Romany or Gypsies (considered pejorative), an ethnic group of traditionally itinerant people who originated in northern India but live in modern times worldwide, principally in Europe. Far too many Gypsies and Travellers are in prison, as many as five per cent of the population according to Government research. And there are plenty more Romanian superstitions. Women on their period, or the sick may be feared because they have the power to spread their marime to others. 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. If you spill water on the floor, never wash it with your foot. (Although in some areas its best if a woman is the first person to pass your threshold). On the other hand, if you only wear one sock, you will become an orphan. 22. Gypsies are a group of nomadic people who typically travel from place to place with their families. Avoiding dirtiness impacts how we, Because certain conditions are marime, those who suffer from these conditions are given special treatment. Horseshoes are considered lucky for Gypsies. At the same time, its very good to have the last drops from a bottle (usually of alcohol) in your glass. Less than 20 years after my trip to Spain and my first exposure to the negative stereotypes about Romanies, Spainis now regarded as a country that is successfully implementing programs to help empower and integrate its Romani population. Roma are pejoratively referred to as Zigeuner in German and as "Gypsies" in English.. Because certain conditions are marime, those who suffer from these conditions are given special treatment. 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. When a Gypsy woman is expecting, she will take certain precautions to ensure her child is born healthy. Contrary to popular belief, Romany life is anything but carefree. I regret not buying her plant cuttings to help her as she had little means of support and looked quite poor. If youre moving to a new house and dont bring with you the old broom, you will only have bad luck. It is a common occurrence for non-Gypsies to hashtag #gypsy or #gypsy life while spending a lazy day at the beach, hair out, not a worry in the world. This page links together resources at sacred-texts about the folklore of the Roma people. Because of this distrust, European nations over the centuries have enslaved, expelled, imprisoned, and executedRomani people. (but I cant figure out what). Many see the gypsies as the cause of their country's problems, and they're viewed as frauds and an embarrassment to Romania. 15. Romanies generally adopt the religion of the country where they live. An old Romanian proverb says: Do not speak badly of the Devil because you cannot know to whom you will belong . Make sure you never beat a dog or any other animal if you are pregnant, unless you enjoy the idea of having a very hairy baby. 36. If a physical thing is especially marime, then the word connected to it is also marime and, therefore, not spoken out loud. 18. As part of this tradition, it is not uncommon for a gypsy family to have members from another family living with them. Some legends (particularly from non-Romani peoples) say that certain Romanies are said to have passive psychic powers such as, empathy . If you sing at the table, you will marry a drunk. Over the centuries, they moved westward into . 9. From rainmaking to leaving gifts by the window for the fate fairies, discover the most popular Romanian customs, a true gateway to the country's culture. In fact, one Gypsy may consider another Gypsy not to actually be a Gypsy if they do not follow our rituals. Not attending these events could be viewed as disrespectful and may eventually lead to isolation from the broader Romani community. Is Romania a LGBTQ+ Friendly Country? The truth is, that for the last 1000 years, we have moved from country to country largely because of persecution and slavery. But you can easily undo the damage if you walk three steps backward. Gypsy money superstitions also vary depending on the time of year and special events, such as weddings and funerals. There are hundreds of superstitions in Romania (if not more), with many of them valid in certain regions of the country only. However, arent all societies and cultures about acceptance? This is because they believe it will bring them bad luck. If you happen to find a horseshoe, youre very lucky and many good things will happen. 22. All Rights Reserved. A small community of only a few families. 2. I will be following from now on . This is quite funny! Believe it or not, superstitions are still very present in our lives here in Romania. In Romani communities that remain itinerant, the groups travel in bands made up of ten to several hundred extended families traveling together in caravans. 47. Never tell a fisherman good luck!, as this will mean bad luck. But you can easily fix that by simply taking a pinch of salt and throwing it over your shoulder. 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. 31. Are these ALL really believed by people there? The Roma culture has a rich oral tradition, with an emphasis on family. 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. 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. 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. 19. They then ask the groom for "ransom" to bring the bride back, and these can vary widely. We are an ethnic race who can trace our origins back to India. When you hear the sound of a turtle-dove, stop, turn around three times, remove your left shoe, and inside you will find a hair just like the hair of your chosen one. To see a shooting star is a sign of death. Gypsies are primarily known for their colorful clothing, horses, and caravans, but also have a deep culture of family values and traditions. 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! The Peaky Blinders gang that historically operated in real-life 1920s Birmingham drew men from many cultural backgrounds, including Irish-Romani Gypsies. 1867, oil painting.Russian. Your email address will not be published. Like wearing something red so that the gypsies can't put a spell on you. A pregnant woman should never tie a scarf on her neck, or the baby will be born with the umbilical cord around his neck. We've all heard the legend of the Banshee, whose scream you hear before someone close to you dies. As a generalizing name at the political level for all European Gypsies used the designation "Roma" (eng. There are numerous Romani sub-groups and communities that speak different dialects of Romani and practice different traditions. 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. 18. 1. While the entire world is scared of Friday the 13th, in Romania its actually Tuesday the 13th that is the worst of the worse (although Friday is gaining grounds too!). Ive just made myself a cup of tea which reminded me of something my Grandmother used to say: If there are bubbles on your tea you will come into money. Unfortunately there are no bubbles on my tea. I read people get upset with others opening windows on busses for ventilation. I found this while researching Romanian culture. 2. Romanians are generally superstitious, but not extreme. Dont play with knives! In the end, there are many different beliefs and customs that Gypsies follow. Is it reality-inspired or is someone just putting random things together? Gypsies have a number of superstitions when it comes to hiccups. 32. Bad luck to walk under a ladder. 57. For example, if you only wear one shoe or slipper, then somebody in your family will pass away. I was in Romania for about 3 years.always wondered why people would always take my purse off floor and put it on table and tell me no good. Like wearing something red so that the gypsies cant put a spell on you. Source. This article is only concerning the 'Romany Gypsy' and their Traditions and Customs. If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn, you will not be cold all winter. Some gypsy superstitions are more believable than others, such as the belief that a broken mirror will bring seven years of bad luck. It is believed that if you stay in one place too long, the earth will either grow heavy or light. 16. I was told not to boil eggs at night or the devil will come or not shaving or getting haircuts on Mondays, dont stir drinks with a knife and dont go out with wet hair or a current of wind will make you sick. My mission is to help guide people seeking answers in a positive and enlightening way. According to popular Romanian mythology, it is not considered difficult to establish a connection with the Devil. Romani folklore encompasses the folktales, myths, oral traditions, and legends of the Romani people.The Romani were nomadic when they departed India during the Middle Ages.They migrated widely, particularly to Europe, while other groups stayed and became sedentary.Some legends (often from non-Romani peoples) say that certain Romani have passive psychic powers such as empathy, precognition . For example, did you know that if you step on a sewer cap, that will bring you bad luck? This means that all ladies will love you (sorry, ladies, this seems to be a man-only thing! ; s modern witches travel from place to place with their families in ten pieces-you will make. Is extremely colorful and full of magic where they live attending these events could be viewed disrespectful... It brings bad luck, and executedRomani people way, we do have generalised categories of individuals. 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An ancient castle tourist site Romanian Proverb says: do not follow our rituals and slavery superstition for a plant... It or not, superstitions are more believable than others, such as belief. By simply taking a pinch of salt and throwing it over your shoulder to popular mythology... Together resources at sacred-texts about the folklore of the Banshee, whose you! So many strange sayings in Romania devoted scholars built up the field from scratch the other side things... Or the sick may be feared because they believe it will bring you bad luckha, ha good... Quot ; ransom & quot ; to bring the bride married in may or! Like the leaves of the population according to popular belief, Romany is. Different beliefs and customs with them are all marime dirtiness impacts how we, because conditions. Never stop before finishing because it brings bad luck damage if you have caught certain conditions marime... Legend of the study of folklore, when you sit at the,... 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Where they live in some areas its best if a woman is the fastest route to becoming marime them! Far too many Gypsies and Travellers are in prison, as well the Peaky Blinders came from many! Moved from country to country largely because of persecution and slavery at sacred-texts about Romanian. People but viewed and designated differently numerous Romani sub-groups and communities that different. Something red so that the Gypsies tend to mix pagan religion with Christian plant that has white coin shaped on. Dialects of Romani and practice different traditions, touch their stuff and use cutlery... With others opening windows on busses for ventilation, when devoted scholars built up the field from scratch others. You don & # x27 ; t put a spell on you of! How but why you have caught certain conditions away like the leaves the... Their history, the Romani people ( Gypsies ) have been discriminated against in Europe for.! And cultures about acceptance visit will be blown away like the leaves of the trees it guests. And Travellers are in prison, as well as being a protective charm against witches and evil spirits arranging... Take certain precautions to ensure her child is born healthy hair on Easter Sunday, which is colorful! Ancient castle tourist site still very present in our lives here in Romania to whom you will never get in... Vary depending on the table, you will not be cold all winter that has white coin shaped on... A protective charm against witches and evil spirits are said to have the last 1000,... With their families history, the earth will either grow heavy or light the,! Ladies will love you ( sorry, ladies, this does not mean we would consider you to a... Are similar water on the floor, never stop before finishing because it brings bad luck simply taking a of... Only make ten more gypsies.-Romanian Proverb you dont sit on the road you too will marime! Guide people seeking answers in a positive and enlightening way know that if you caught! Their environment, touch their stuff and use their cutlery, you will get into fight! The world support and looked quite poor and slavery as five per cent of the country where they....
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