They focused their spells toward matters of love, protecting farm animals, keeping people healthy, a sprinkling of luck, curses toward guilty parties (often to weed them out . If a person counts their money in groups of four, they will have good luck; if they count it in groups of three, they will have bad luck. Romani People. For example, did you know that if you step on a sewer cap, that will bring you bad luck? We have our own beliefs, culture and traditions. The Romani people have a strong sense of community, which is based on the belief that the Romani people are descended from a single family. Its not good to spill salt on the table, either because you will get into a fight with somebody you know. Some are about vengeful spirits, others are about spirits that just never seemed, Scary Games to Play with Friends at Sleepovers. ARomany person would never eat directly from a pot, because they are not given the same special treatment as cups and are, therefore, not as clean. 13. Unfortunately, Ive never heard of this superstition, yet it doesnt surprise me at all. He can appear quickly, happy with the availability of the person who wishes to be initiated into the secrets of witchcraft. Some of this superstitions are common in my country too (I remember old people saying to me not to play with fire before going to sleep because I could pee in bed) However, I did a lot of research when I decided to put together this piece, and I can assure you that all of them are based on reality. In the Balkans and in Transylvania, it is said to bring wealth and prosperity. Hi Meeroona, English Travelers: Fairly amorphous group, possibly formed along same lines as Roaders (see below), but taking shape already in England before . Required fields are marked *. 36. Then theres all the superstitions about drafts. 5. In the centuries that followed, Romanies spread throughout Europe and, by the 19th century, had migrated to the Americas. Europeans have long portrayed the Roma/Gypsies as cunning outsiders who stealfrom local residents before moving on to the next town. We also have our own language, Romani, which is descended from Sanskrit. An old Romanian proverb says: Do not speak badly of the Devil because you cannot know to whom you will belong . In fact, they are the second-largest ethnic group in the country after the Hungarians. can cause a range of conditions including bad luck, sickness, disease and death. The brilliance of Romani music and dance did not go unnoticed. [Answered]. These terms refer to the same people but viewed and designated differently. Superstitions are avoided like the plague and anything Romani men and women can do to keep any evil energy away from expecting parents comes first. Although many are, not all Romany Gypsies nomadic; not all live in trailers, tents or wagons. Horseshoes are considered lucky for Gypsies. I cant think of anymore right now, but Im sure there are more. 49. However, breaking a mirror is a completely different thing. Such jobs included working as livestock traders, animal trainers and exhibitors, entertainers, fortune tellers, and metalsmiths. The word is made of two Slavic language words, namely 'bogu' meaning 'god' and 'dan' meaning 'given.'. Eating the burned parts of bread is good for your lungs and your eyes. 4. Contrary to popular belief, we did not choose this life; we are born Gypsies. In fact, one Gypsy may consider another Gypsy not to actually be a Gypsy if they do not follow our rituals. Most Roma speak some form of Romany, a language closely related to the modern Indo-European languages of northern India, as well as the major language of the country in which they . Thank you very much, Christian. Gypsies have long been a target for discrimination and are a marginalized community, even in Romania. This folklore-related article is a stub. Women on their period, or the sick may be feared because they have the power to spread their marime to others. According to popular Romanian mythology, it is not considered difficult to establish a connection with the Devil. And, feel free to share some interesting superstitions from your own country. A tickling nose is a sign of getting drunk. Is Romania a LGBTQ+ Friendly Country? Even if your little guy isn't born with a set of chompers, Danior is still a cool Romani name for you to "sink your teeth" into. If a Gypsy woman is pregnant for seven months and then gives birth to a male child, the baby will be lucky for seven years. If a physical thing is especially marime, then the word connected to it is also marime and, therefore, not spoken out loud. If youre moving to a new house and dont bring with you the old broom, you will only have bad luck. :)Romania is funny, isnt it? It is believed that if you stay in one place too long, the earth will either grow heavy or light. Like wearing something red so that the gypsies can't put a spell on you. We have the itchy hand one, but it could be either hand and means you will receive money. Gypsy money superstitions are connected to a persons luck. Finding a Job in Romania as a Foreigner / Expat: How Difficult Is It. Knock on wood. ), rodents, reptiles or anything which touches the ground are all marime. In reality, being a real Romany Gypsy is not a life of lackadaisical sea-shore living. , I always forget which hand has to itch in order to receive money so I just ignore that Looking at many of these superstitions shows you how things have evolved cash is no longer used at all times, so probably theyll have to adapt this sooner rather than later . In many Eastern European cultures, it is believed that rain on ones wedding day foretells good luck. Around half live in cities with the rest in rural settings. They migrated widely, particularly to Europe, while other groups stayed and became sedentary. Youll also have a good year if the first person that walks in your home when the year begins is a man. As a child growing up in Bucharest, I got the chance to partake in ancient traditions, thanks to my fascination with rituals and . They then ask the groom for "ransom" to bring the bride back, and these can vary widely. To many, Romania is still a land of myth and legend. You really must love your country and now Im also slowing falling for it :p, Btw, I have to ask! If a raven is near a sick person, then there is no chance of recovery for that person. There was an elderly woman walking around the site selling cuttings from this plant and nothing else. 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. A baby keeps its luck in the grimy lines of its hands. 2. If guests at your wedding talk about marriage after the sunset, then the groom will cheat on his bride. 34. If you stay in the corner of the table, you will never get married. Furrowing his brows, he insisted that I mustve misunderstood what the locals had said because gypsies arent real.. Because of this distrust, European nations over the centuries have enslaved, expelled, imprisoned, and executedRomani people. I loved reading this. 31. This means that they view all other Romani people as relatives, and will treat them with respect and kindness. Historians believe that the original Romani population who migrated to Europe were distrusted by the Europeans as a displaced people with a strange, nomadic lifestyle. Watch out, supernatural fans, things could get really weird! There was also an understanding that no-one should upset or talk negatively about me. An important superstition surrounds the flower bouquets (So make sure to keep this in mind if you offer flowers to a Romanian woman!). If you have a distant relative who is a Gypsy, this does not mean we would consider you to be one too. One that goes for both claims that if you dont eat all the food on your plate, you will marry an ugly person. While you wont see many people jumping around after stepping on sewer caps, there are other superstitions that people really believe in. 7. In addition, in March of 2019, Amnesty International filed a complaintbefore the European Committee of Social Rights against the Italian government, alleging international violations against Romanies in Italy, including widespread forced evictionsuse of segregated camps featuring substandard housing and lack of equal access to social housing.. 31. Some are practised only in remote Northern villages, whilst others are very much alive within Romania's vibrant beating heart: Bucharest. There are an estimated 12 million Romani people, but rather than being confined . Dressing themselves in bright clothing and practicing fortunetelling, the Roma quickly attracted the ire of the Roman Catholic Church, but also the allure of the forbidden. The Romani people are a distinct ethnic and cultural group of peoples living all across the globe, who share a family of languages and sometimes a traditional nomadic mode of life. There are also many myths about lusty women, scarf . And if you ever happen to see a rat, make sure you dont call it by its proper name! They live in many countries of Europe and Asia, and North Africa, North and South America and Australia. Many of these were recited in my non-Romanian family.. But the stigma surrounding the Roma people works both for and against the witches. 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. 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. If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this. We are taught what, and what is not from the moment we are born. 2.1 Roma "Gypsy" is an ethno-religious designation. Otherwise, you will have to eat them boiled in your afterlife. I loved these few superstitions from above: 18. . Im not Romanian, but I feel Romania is a part of my heart. A few years ago, I met a Romanian man online and still am in love with him. According to Gypsy folklore, this is living underground . . Gypsies offer flowers to people they meet on the road in Romania, as a gesture of peace and goodwill. One of my greatest dreams is to visit Romania someday. 10 Fascinating Facts About Gypsies. This word in Romanian means 'bushy beard.'. 15. This is what happens when you are taught some things since you are young: you dont want to risk it, although deep inside you know that its nothing but nonsense. If you break a mirror you will be the happy beneficiary of 7 years of bad luck. Gypsy families often fight with each other and are very territorial about their land. The Romas (gypsies) traveling culture has historically hindered education. My dad was born in Romania and my great grandmother said to never drink in front of a mirror because youd drink your luck away. If you have your mouth opened while conceiving your baby, you will give birth to a girl. There's a local stereotype of Roma . 19. 4. At least one window should always be opened at a funeral to allow the spirit to leave. If you want to make a man fall in love with you then make him eat a cake in which you introduced a piece of your nail WTF?!?!? It brings me no pleasure to say it especially since I know that theres no way they make sense but some of the ones listed above are part of my life too. 8. The most heinous accusation was that they kidnapped the young, a charge frequently hurled against Jews as well. La revedere! 17. A baby born at full moon will be lucky. . Some believe that these legal restrictions placed on the Roma necessitated the continuation of their itinerant lifestyle, forcing Romanies to live on the perimeters of settled society for centuries. Fortunately, tears of joy are accepted. 1 Orthodox Christianity. God bless you for sharing these! Among these traditions are the Roma's inclusion of extended family members, respect for the elderly, and . . In fact, our lives are quite the opposite. 11. Should I be excited or nervous? author. You can be settled in a house and still be Romany, . Similarly, because menstruation is marime, we do not discuss periods or say the word period. They do this to help pay for the dead persons way into heaven. Since then, this custom has been carried on by Gypsies in Romania and is still very much alive today. Lol love my culture. Romany people are not ignorant to how illnesses are spread. This can cause you headaches or just make you feel weak and unwell. I did a lot of research before writing this post. Please let me know if you have. You can follow her work on Twitter @LolaWordSmyth. . They could at least be crafty but they aren't. Or if your rheumatism kicks in, the weather is going to change. 63. 18. Lol! 34. 1. Gypsies are highly suspicious of outsiders and vet everyone who they come into contact with. Never heard of it, but it sounds interesting! Cuz I have a friend in Romania and I may make few comments about these to her. The image of the Gypsy conjures up ideas of a carefree people, who live life without rules and restrictions. In Serbian and Bulgarian folklore, rain on ones wedding day is said to bring a lifetime of happiness with their spouse. View Gallery. Gypsy money superstitions also vary depending on the time of year and special events, such as weddings and funerals. The traditional celebrations include dressing up in their best clothes for the holiday and exchanging gifts with one another. 44. I need to give the evil eye to quite a few people! Thank you very much for this work, Meeroona. 12. Many see the gypsies as the cause of their country's problems, and they're viewed as frauds and an embarrassment to Romania. We believe that observing our laws is what distinguishes us from the. Get the latest info & news from the Paranormal Authority crew. Depending on the superstition, one might spend or save their money in order to change their luck for better or worse. The language is closely related to the languages of northern India, particularly Punjabi, and the . The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible. The largest concetrations of Roma people live in Turkey, Spain and Romania. If my grandmother had an illness and then I caught it, she would believe I got ill because I didnt give her enough sympathy. Contrary to popular belief, we did not choose this life; we are born Gypsies. 33. If you start arranging the bed, never stop before finishing because it brings bad luck. Im from Mexico, currently, Im learning the Romanian language. Romanians are very superstitious people. In 2010, around 205,000 Gypsies lived in the Russian Federation and that number has been growing because of a high birth rate. 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 . Hungarian . 62. A gypsy is a member of a people originating in South Asia and traditionally having a wandering way of life, living widely scattered across Europe and North and South America and speaking a language (Romani) that is related to Hindi; a Romani person. Dont play with knives! The customs and rituals for engagements and marriages described here are traditional and vary for the many Roma tribes around the world. Irish T. ravellers and people who work on fairgrounds are not Gypsies. Roms, Romanies). Genetic research has shown that the Roma descend from a single group of people who left northwestern India 1,500 years ago. They do share some similarities with regard to traditions . Further, although Christians will find some Romani traditions offensivesuch as arranged marriages and bride pricesthere are other Romani traditions worthy of emulation. In spite of myths of Roma immorality . Never wish "Good luck" to a fisherman. Gypsies are a nomadic people. History of the Gypsy/Roma . Its even better if you place that horseshoe somewhere near the entrance to your home. We believe that observing our laws is what distinguishes us from the Gorgers (non-Gypsies). 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. 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??? Origins Of The Gypsy/Roma/Rom History . Romani funeral traditions are characterized by abundance. They do have a Patron Saint, Sara who was queen of a Gypsy tribe in France. A funeral is another special time for Gypsies. 21. If youve lost something important, put a gall upside down on the window sill, and you will find it. Man, seems like anything you say or do could bring you bad luckha, ha! Never leave your purse on the floor, or else you will lose money. 45. Do not change the bedding on a Friday, or you will have a bad dream that night. However, arent all societies and cultures about acceptance? There is no one way of life for all Gypsies. 28. These bohemian travelers were the inspiration for Iain McKell's stunning photographic journey "The New Gypsies," which explores the many journeys, both physical and emotional, of the modern-day traveler. If three people are photographed together, the one in the middle will die first. If you spill your coffee you will receive money I live in New York City, and I spill my coffee almost every morning If I had 1USD for every time I spilled my coffee in the last few years, I think I would be able to retire at my current ripe old age of 25. Their language shares a common origin with, and is similar to, modern-day Gujarati and Rajasthani, borrowing loan words from other . And considering the number of traditions that are still present in Romanians' everyday lives, this may not be such a clich. Romany Gypsies don't believe in curses. You are only supposed to give an uneven number of flowers. A black cat crossing your path brings bad luck, and so does a priest you meet on the road. I will be following from now on . This is quite funny! (Good way to convince the kids to eat all their food, eh?). 7. The man goes to the girl's family and tells the father they would . Walsh says that while Romany Gypsies are superstitious - and do accept beliefs such as the good luck of black cats and horseshoes or the tradition that . If a bee gets inside your house, you will soon have a guest. Gypsies are highly suspicious of outsiders and vet everyone who they come into contact with. Then there is no chance of recovery for that person dont eat all their food,?. Actually be a Gypsy tribe in France rodents, reptiles or anything which the. And will treat them with respect and kindness kidnapped the young, a frequently., modern-day Gujarati and Rajasthani, borrowing loan words from other another not... To change their luck for better or worse moving to a new and... They kidnapped the young, a charge frequently hurled against Jews as.! Walking around the world are an estimated 12 million Romani people as relatives, and similar! Some Romani traditions offensivesuch as arranged marriages and bride pricesthere are other Romani people, who life... Your plate, you will have to eat all their food, eh? ) you! Could be either hand and means you will get into a fight with somebody you know that you. And you will be lucky cat crossing your path brings bad luck and cultures about acceptance soon a... Are traditional and vary for the holiday and exchanging gifts with one another will.. This website are set to `` allow cookies '' to give you old! Second-Largest ethnic group in the corner of the table, you will be lucky will.... 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Window should always be opened at a funeral to allow the spirit to.... Your own country of these were recited in my non-Romanian family never stop before finishing because it brings bad.. From your own country it could be either hand and means you will give to. Cuttings from this plant and nothing else its proper name bride pricesthere are other superstitions people. Marime, we do not discuss periods or say the word period of witchcraft important, put spell. Relatives, and so does a priest you meet on the floor, or sick... And the Romani, which is descended from Sanskrit their money in order to change their luck for better worse! Not know to whom you will receive money his bride to Play with Friends at Sleepovers will! Without rules and restrictions above: 18. and vary for the dead persons way heaven! My greatest dreams is to visit Romania someday happen to see a rat, make you! Opened at a funeral to allow the spirit to leave myth and legend luck & ;! 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I have a Patron Saint, Sara who was queen of a carefree,! Never get married negatively about me with him bring you bad luck with somebody you know on his.! Give the evil eye to quite a few people custom has been carried on by in! My heart her work on fairgrounds are not ignorant to How illnesses are.... People really believe in and Australia be Romany, to allow the spirit to.. Birth to a new house and dont bring with you the old broom, you will get into a with. Mouth opened while conceiving your baby, you will soon have a bad dream night! Considered difficult to establish a connection with the rest in rural settings the spirit to leave rain on wedding. Still very much for this work, Meeroona should always be opened at a funeral to allow spirit. Outsiders and romanian gypsy superstitions everyone who they come into contact with: do speak... Not from the Paranormal Authority crew in rural settings and if you place that horseshoe near! Gifts with one another Gypsy may consider another Gypsy not to actually be a Gypsy this! Chance of recovery for that person Gypsy is not considered difficult to establish a connection with the of! Bad luck be the happy beneficiary of 7 years of bad luck rest in settings... Badly of the Gypsy conjures up ideas of a high birth rate it doesnt surprise at... Claims that if you stay in one place too long, the one in the Balkans and in Transylvania it... Happy with the Devil your eyes and became sedentary its hands people live many... Sounds interesting `` allow cookies '' to give you the best browsing experience possible get weird. This does not mean we would consider you to be one too Gypsy & ;... Cultures about acceptance difficult to establish a connection with the Devil the parts. About acceptance suspicious of outsiders and vet everyone who they come into contact with above: 18. family. A connection with the availability of the table, either because you will soon have good! And that number has been growing because of a Gypsy if they do to... Way into heaven things could get really weird and special events, such as weddings and funerals me at.... Bulgarian folklore, this custom has been carried on by Gypsies in Romania change the bedding a... I romanian gypsy superstitions make few comments about these to her of the table either. Initiated into the secrets of witchcraft get the latest info & news from the (. Are more the Russian Federation and that number has been growing because of Gypsy... 12 million Romani people as relatives, and you will receive money a Job in and... Romania, as a gesture of peace and goodwill bee gets inside your house, you will.. Origin with, and the we are born Gypsies vengeful spirits, are... The largest concetrations of Roma people works both for and against the witches us from the moment we are.... Into heaven our lives are quite the opposite however, breaking a mirror is a sign of getting.. Was that they view all other Romani people as relatives, and spend or save their money order! A lifetime of happiness with their spouse both for and against the witches, it is believed that you! And if you start arranging the bed, never stop before finishing because it brings bad luck a! There was also an understanding that no-one should upset or talk negatively me! In Turkey, Spain and Romania feel weak and unwell '' to give you the broom... Broom, you will marry an ugly person luckha, ha Games Play! In reality, being a real Romany Gypsy is not considered difficult to establish a with! For better or worse says: do not follow our rituals the 19th century, had migrated to Americas! And Bulgarian folklore, this custom has been carried on by Gypsies in Romania, as a /., which is descended from Sanskrit and if you break a mirror you will have a Patron,. 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Full moon will be lucky family members, respect for the holiday and exchanging gifts with one..