Gypsies

Romani Eastern Europe

Hiba Fraywat

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

100301320#, ANTH 1100, Brian Pegg, November 4th

Abstract

Romani people had immigrated to Eastern Europe since 1,500 years ago. They were discriminated because of their skin color and how they spoke. Gypsies culture is unique in their beliefs, wedding, traditions, occupation and costumes and how it distinguishes them from the other cultures.

Romani

Hear the word gypsies the first thing that comes to our mind is future teller or maybe band of traveling musicians and dancers in colorful decorated wagons. Gypsies had been persecuted worldwide for much of their existence; they don’t typically trust outsiders and haven’t shared much of their stories. Gypsies are also known as Romany, Romanies, Romanis, Roma or Roms; in their Romani language they are known collectively as Romane or Rromane (depending on the dialect). The Romani are ethnic group living mostly in Eastern Europe and North America. “Gypsies originated in the Punjab region of north-west India. They left perhaps as early as in the sixth century A.D., probably due to repeated incursion by Islamic warrior” (Barany,2002,p.9). Then Roma people migrated to Eastern Europe since 1,500 years ago. Eastern Europe they mistakenly thought that they were Egyptians. “The word ‘Gypsy’ derives from ‘Egyptians’.” (Okely, 1983, p. 1). They don’t like anyone to call them Gypsy because they feel that it is discriminating so they prefer the word Roma. Romani adapted their religion from the countries where they emigrated and even they spoke the same language as the country were they currently live in. When the gypsies began their emigration they weren’t welcomed by people in other countries, because they looked and spoke differently, and they were often harassed or even physically harmed. They were also enslaved by European. They have been portrayed as canning, mysterious outsiders who tell the future, and they usually steal before moving on to...