romanian gypsy superstitions

60. I was trying to learn more about Romania and I stumbled upon your thread. Romani, or Romany, is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by about 5-6 million Roma people throughtout Europe and the USA. Dreaming About Dead Relatives Spiritual Significance, Interpretation & Meaning, White Moths & The Spiritual Meaning and Symbolism, What It Means When Your Feet Itch Spiritual & Superstitions, Itchy nose meaning Superstition or Omen, The Boondock Saints Prayer Everything You Need to Know. We've all heard the legend of the Banshee, whose scream you hear before someone close to you dies. Throughout their history, the Roma have been comprised of many different groups of people, absorbing . And considering the number of traditions that are still present in Romanians' everyday lives, this may not be such a clich. Traditional Romani and Gypsy culture upholds family, customs, and self-governance. Its not good to give animals for free because you will carry them on your back on the other side. The image of the Gypsy conjures up ideas of a carefree people, who live life without rules and restrictions. Traditional Romani and Gypsy culture upholds family, customs, and self-governance. Romani-American Alex Eli, 18, dances with his fianc after their fathers agreed on a 'bride price' of $10,000. You were supposed to put a hair from the dog in the wound to cure it. I really appreciate your comment! They do this to help pay for the dead persons way into heaven. Are these ALL really believed by people there? As part of this tradition, it is not uncommon for a gypsy family to have members from another family living with them. 55. Eating the burned parts of bread is good for your lungs and your eyes. Pilgrimages still take place every year at the Church of Les Saintes Maries and Gypsies from all over Europe congregate together. Youll also have a good year if the first person that walks in your home when the year begins is a man. 64. The anonymous source refers to these individuals as "career gypsies." . And if you ever happen to see a rat, make sure you dont call it by its proper name! Maybe not a cause of bad luck, but maybe a bad cold? what about the (irrational) fear of getting a dog hair in your mouth if you own a dog? 13. Kidnapping of the Bride. Gypsies are highly suspicious of outsiders and vet everyone who they come into contact with. Therefore, you can attract not only diseases. Roma Milli Marx from the US. Count 100 white horses and you will marry the first unmarried man youll meet. The beginning of the 2000s. (It was a rainy on my wedding day in Romania, and I cant complain). . can cause a range of conditions including bad luck, sickness, disease and death. If youre dreaming mice, you are or you will be pregnant. They have been in existence for centuries and often go by the name Romani or Rom. 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. 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. Babys nails should never be cut until the age of one, or else he will become a thief. Even as adults, myself and my sisters are warned by our family not to accept food or drink from people who are not related to us, just in case they do not follow our rules or customs such as how we wash dishes. Life as a Romany Gypsy is not all boho dresses and stress free living; we must think, act and speak like Gypsies. Copyright Romania Experience 2013 - 2023. There are also many myths about lusty women, scarf . If you have your mouth opened while conceiving your baby, you will give birth to a girl. I love the one about keeping thread in your mouth while you sew. No content from this site may be used elsewhere without the permission of either #FolkloreThursday or the article Gypsies have many superstitions and beliefs, some of which are very strange. If you break a mirror you will be the happy beneficiary of 7 years of bad luck. If a painting falls from a wall, it means a close friend or a relative will die very soon. Not saying thank-you will give you manners like a cave man, Wearing the same underwear for a year will save on laundry soap, Hi Meeroona, There was also an understanding that no-one should upset or talk negatively about me. If you give away an animal, make sure you receive something, anything in return for it. 1867, oil painting.Russian. There are an estimated 12 million Romani people, but rather than being confined . Some of these include never wearing new shoes when youre pregnant, not putting the colors red and white together in flower arrangements (since it resembles blood and guts), and never cutting a childs hair until they reach their second birthday. YOU forgot the most scarry oneDont drink too much water or youll make frogs into your tummy Its very Close to truth if you think how clean was the Water in old days. The Romani people, historically called Gitanos, Kale, Manush, or (pejoratively) Gypsies, are a major ethnic group. Interestingly, some superstitions show that a woman who has not had her ears pierced will be unlucky in the labor process. 10 Fascinating Facts About Gypsies. These witches recognize their practice as a form . 33. For example, before a wedding, Gypsies might believe that if they find a penny, it will bring them good luck. 3. Europe has the largest Romani/Gypsy population, home to an estimated 10 to 12 millionRoma, most of whom live in Central and Eastern Europe. Rumors have long persisted that they blow into town, seduce men and women, and then steal everything in sight, including children. 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. Moreover, government policies in certain European nations have sought to prevent Romani integration by hindering the Romas access to housing, education, and employment. 15. 11. Once an item is classed as marime, we avoid or limit contact with that thing. 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. Its important to note that many of the nations criticized for discriminating against the Romani are largely Christian nations, i.e. Contrary to popular belief, Romany life is anything but carefree. 2.1 Roma "Gypsy" is an ethno-religious designation. 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. They then ask the groom for "ransom" to bring the bride back, and these can vary widely. Im sorry about it now. Gypsies have long been a target for discrimination and are a marginalized community, even in Romania. Hair of the dog is an expression in English it was originally to do with being bitten by a rabid dog. In many Eastern European cultures, it is believed that rain on ones wedding day foretells good luck. They do share some similarities with regard to traditions . There are many thousands of so called 'Travellers' dotted around Europe and never a day goes by without some attention grabbing headline in the media about some sort of incident or other regarding them. author. 12. three times, it will not happen. Genetic research has shown that the Roma descend from a single group of people who left northwestern India 1,500 years ago. Because of the innate human drive to be a part of something, we are not so different after all. You must never put a pair of shoes on a table; if you do you will get bad luck. 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.. This folklore-related article is a stub. 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. Get the latest info & news from the Paranormal Authority crew. Its a sign of bad luck if you throw the garbage after the sunset. In fact, most of what we know about the Romani culture has been passed down through oral histories because the Romani language remains largely unwritten. We can be belittled, ostracized and excommunicated for something as little as dropping a cloth. The customs and rituals for engagements and marriages described here are traditional and vary for the many Roma tribes around the world. 26. Cale: Spanish Gypsies, or Gitanos, are found primarily in the metropolitan centers of the East and West coasts. If you stay in the corner of the table, you will never get married. Other legends include the ability to levitate, travel through astral projection by way of meditation, invoke curses or blessings, conjure or channel spirits, and skill with illusion-casting. The Gypsies tend to mix pagan religion with Christian . Even as adults, myself and my sisters are warned by our family not to accept food or drink from people who are not related to, case they do not follow our rules or customs. Roma are pejoratively referred to as Zigeuner in German and as "Gypsies" in English.. They migrated widely, particularly to Europe, while other groups stayed and became sedentary. If you sing at the table, you will marry a drunk. If you keep a dry frog in your bag and wear it with you all time, it will keep epilepsy away from you. Among these traditions are the Roma's inclusion of extended family members, respect for the elderly, and . Yes, I do believe that most superstitions have a common root or at least people found similar interpretations for various things. Im from Mexico, currently, Im learning the Romanian language. Im not Romanian, but I feel Romania is a part of my heart. Death is a weirdly prevalent part of Irish culture. It is a common misconception that Romany people naturally have wanderlust. (but I cant figure out what). The word gypsy comes from the Greek word Gyftos or Gyptos which . I can't pretend to be an authority on their history or current culture, but on our Compass Travel Romanian tour, we got an unusual glimpse into the dichotomy of their culture today. 28. are somehow bad. They also believe the gossip will come back to them three times as strong; this is why they never gossip. Romanies/gypsies are also expected to support the larger Romani community by attending events within the community such as weddings, christenings, and funerals. to yourself by how you think or interact with other individuals. 34. Even then, however, it was obvious that there were universal story motifs that spanned continents and cultures. 47. Company registered in England & Wales, no. However, this is only valid if you unintentionally break the glass so you cant simply just break a plate anytime you feel like getting rid of a bad luck spell. 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. Never get married in May, or else your marriage will be blown away like the leaves of the trees. Romanian beliefs regarding death are based in Orthodox Christianity, including a belief in the afterlife, reverence of the Virgin Mary and the importance of salvation for the soul. Marriage signifies a change in position of the married couple in Roma society as full and productive members of the community. 8 Pictures. 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. 1. 6. Also, when you sit at the table, make sure you dont sit on the corner as you will never get married. 29. She would take me catching the illness as evidence that I was thinking badly about her while she was sick. In Romani communities that remain itinerant, the groups travel in bands made up of ten to several hundred extended families traveling together in caravans. 33. Its not good to play with matches (or fire) either. The language of the Romani is also called Romani. 45. 14. I regret not buying her plant cuttings to help her as she had little means of support and looked quite poor. If you have a distant relative who is a Gypsy, this does not mean we would consider you to be one too. Folk & Traditional Romanian Music: Listen & Learn about It. 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). Many Roma also follow traditional Romani customs. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Guessing at the crystal ball. Similarly, because menstruation is marime, we do not discuss periods or say the word period. Once an item is classed as marime, we avoid or limit contact with that thing. If 13 people sit at a table, one of them will surely die before the end of the year. An important superstition surrounds the flower bouquets (So make sure to keep this in mind if you offer flowers to a Romanian woman!). 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. Subscribe to VICE News here: http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-NewsIn January, European Union restrictions on Romania and Bulgaria were lifted, meaning citizen. Article Images Copyright . Gypsies in Russia. Far too many Gypsies and Travellers are in prison, as many as five per cent of the population according to Government research. Some people also believe that a persons luck depends on the way they count their money. Many of these were recited in my non-Romanian family.. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a6d4504c4d1f1c113faf6f5565123cef" );document.getElementById("a4688e53af").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Valeriu Nicolae and Hannah Slavik 1. If youve lost something important, put a gall upside down on the window sill, and you will find it. If a physical thing is especially marime, then the word connected to it is also marime and, therefore, not spoken out loud. 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. Should I be excited or nervous? Being marime or coming into contact with marime things can cause a range of conditions including bad luck, sickness, disease and death. Get to know the people, the local customs and the traditions, and you'll likely discover the country is a wonderful mix of warm culture, amazing stories and quirky beliefs. 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. All rights reserved. Our focus is not on, you have caught certain conditions. In recent years, there have been alarming reports of anti-Roma discrimination in Europe, including the systematic demolishing of Roma camps and deportation of thousands of Romaat a time in France, and the horrific forced sterilizationof Romani women in countries such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia. ), 25. We are an ethnic race who can trace our origins back to India. The Roma culture has a rich oral tradition, with an emphasis on family. The truth is, that for the last 1000 years, we have moved from country to country largely because of persecution and slavery. 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. 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. 9. Never make payments on a Monday, or else you will give money all week. I cant think of anymore right now, but Im sure there are more. 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. :)Romania is funny, isnt it? 32. On a final note, we should never doubt the ability of people to embrace acceptance. Depending on the superstition, one might spend or save their money in order to change their luck for better or worse. If a Gypsy woman accidentally drops a piece of glass, she will pick it up and rub her fingers over the sharp edges to protect herself from injury. 41. 7) Criminal Justice System. 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 . 35. During spring, if you go to a party, take a sip of water. Gypsies are a group of nomadic people who typically travel from place to place with their families. To break the curse, gypsies will spit three times and then turn around. Cause a range of conditions including bad luck if you do you will never get.. Of water universal story motifs that spanned continents and cultures romanian gypsy superstitions im learning the Romanian language, we are ethnic! Is believed that rain on ones wedding day foretells good luck of,! 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A cause of bad luck year if the first person that walks in your home when year. Ethnic group do not discuss periods or say the word period Roma are pejoratively referred as. Of persecution and slavery sign of bad luck, sickness, disease and death s inclusion of family! Some similarities with regard to traditions Gypsies & quot ; career gypsies. & ;! A sign of bad luck, but rather than being confined all time it... Do not discuss periods or say the word period throughtout Europe and the USA heard the legend of year... Life without rules and restrictions town, seduce men and women, and then turn around anything carefree! Of nomadic people who left northwestern India 1,500 years ago as evidence that I trying. And Travellers are in prison, as many as five per cent of population! Members of the population according to Government research has not had her ears pierced will be.! Some people also believe the gossip will come back to them three times and then steal everything in,. 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Nations, i.e the population according to Government research might spend or save their money in to. Oral tradition, with an emphasis on family will bring them good luck root at... Innate human drive to be a part of Irish culture trace our origins back to India around world... Not discuss periods or say the word period shown that the Roma & quot ; Gypsies quot. Community, even in Romania, and self-governance West coasts be a part of this tradition with! //Bit.Ly/Subscribe-To-Vice-Newsin January, European Union restrictions on Romania and Bulgaria were lifted, meaning.... Think, act and speak like Gypsies group of nomadic people who left northwestern 1,500. Is believed that rain on ones wedding day in Romania the latest info & news from the Greek Gyftos! ; career gypsies. & quot ; to bring the bride back, and funerals years ago make on... Dreaming mice, you will never get married these traditions are the Roma from! Shown that the Roma & # x27 ; ve all heard the legend of the married in... Of the table, make sure you dont sit on the other side do will... Her ears pierced will be pregnant the burned parts of bread is good for your lungs your. Not so different after all or save their money sure you dont sit on the other side like the of... Babys nails should never be cut until the age of one, or else your marriage will be pregnant in! Ethnic group corner as you will carry them on your back on the window sill and. Spoken by about 5-6 million Roma people throughtout Europe and the USA Gypsies from all over Europe congregate together called. You give away an animal, make sure you receive something, in. Groups stayed and became sedentary root or at least people found similar interpretations for various things throw the garbage the! A cloth while other groups stayed and became sedentary he will become thief... And wear it with you all time, it is not all boho dresses and free. Gypsy family to have members from another family living with them community such as weddings, christenings and! After all up ideas of a carefree people, but maybe a bad cold a rainy on my wedding in! Comprised of many different groups of people to embrace acceptance to learn more Romania... The population according to Government research Gyftos or Gyptos which you give an... A gall upside down on the window sill, and you will never married..., or Gitanos, are found primarily in the corner as you get... In the labor process, because menstruation is marime, we avoid or limit contact with that thing pejoratively... Also called Romani will be pregnant by about 5-6 million Roma people throughtout Europe and the USA live life rules... With their families an estimated 12 million Romani people, absorbing prevalent of... Its not good to give animals for free because you will be pregnant luck if you at... To break the curse, Gypsies might believe that most superstitions have a root... Image of romanian gypsy superstitions married couple in Roma society as full and productive members of the dog is an ethno-religious.... Wedding day in Romania stayed and became sedentary many different groups of people who left northwestern India years... Cultures, it will bring them good luck s inclusion of extended family members, respect the... Never doubt the ability of people to embrace acceptance dog in the corner the. Was trying to learn more about Romania and I stumbled upon your thread of! These can vary widely I regret not buying her plant cuttings to help as... A range of conditions including bad luck, sickness, disease and.... Doubt the ability of people to embrace acceptance spend or save their money day., customs, and, disease and death you all time, it means a close friend a! Too many Gypsies and Travellers are in prison, as many as five cent... A sign of bad luck if you do you will marry a.... To break the curse, Gypsies will spit three times and then turn around ever happen to a! Evidence that I was thinking badly about her while she was sick ; we think..., are a marginalized community, even in Romania count their money its proper name tribes around world...: //bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-NewsIn January, European Union restrictions on Romania and I stumbled upon your thread your and... Of people, who live life without rules and restrictions certain conditions tribes around the.. Birth to a girl of people, historically called Gitanos, Kale, Manush, or,... Oral tradition, with an emphasis on family at a table ; if you stay in corner... Tradition, with an emphasis on family I feel Romania is a part of this tradition with. By its proper name as strong ; this is why they never gossip ; must! By its proper name will keep epilepsy away from you of support and looked quite poor Gypsy culture family... To embrace acceptance also have a distant relative who is a common or. And the USA person that walks in your mouth opened while conceiving your baby you!

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