Romani people are often recognizable to other Roma through their appearance and cultural dress codes. Moreover, Romani people value the outwardly display of their wealth and prosperity which is reflective in their traditional dress.
No doubt you can already picture the fashion item in question (although in the 2010s you may have a new term for it, the maxi skirt). For the purposes of this article I will use the term gypsy skirt. The skirt originated with the Romani people, who believed women should cover their lower bodies for modesty.
Gypsy style dresses encompass a variety of different styles, including drawstring waist dresses, loose t-shirt dresses, Victorian-inspired sheer shifts, and lace dresses with fancy cuffs and buttons. These dresses are highly versatile and come in multiple lengths.
The head in particular is protected from impurity. Hats worn by men and scarves worn by married women are kept away from any surface (such as the seat of a chair) or other clothes that touch the lower body.
Romani groups tend to adopt the religion which is dominant in their countries of residence. In the Euro- pean context this means that they are either Christian or Muslim. Even though they often do not follow all religious rituals and practices, faith in God remains an important part of their life.
They observe strict hygiene laws known as Mochadi, which consist of important principles about, for example, hand washing prior to handling food or dishes, after getting dressed in the morning and before going to the kitchen.
Travelling communities believe in the principle of no sex before marriage and girls who break this code are considered dirty and risk being left on the shelf. Unmarried young men and women are not allowed to socialize alone together because of the emphasis on female chastity.
How do the girls stay so slim? It turned out that just like their romany cousins across the pond, these romanichal gypsy girls eat a lot of malt vinegar and salt. However, unlike the Brits they don't sprinkle them on their chips (fries): they put them on fruit.
Roma (Gypsies) in Prewar Europe. Many Roma View This Term in the Glossary traditionally worked as craftsmen and were blacksmiths, cobblers, tinsmiths, horse dealers, and toolmakers. Others were performers such as musicians, circus animal trainers, and dancers.
The Roma do not follow a single faith, but are Catholic Manouche, Mercheros, and Sinti; Muslim Ashkali and Romanlar; Pentecostal Kalderash and Lovari; Protestant Travellers; Anglican Gypsies; and Baptist Roma.
Rom: Gypsies of East European origin who arrived after 1880. Mostly urban, they are scattered across the entire country. One of the larger groups in the US, possibly in the 55-60,000 range. Romnichels: English Gypsies who arrived beginning in 1850.
'Gypsy' is actually a term for Romani people—a whole different culture. However, if you have a free spirit, too, that wants to explore the world, meet new people, and live a worry-free life, a modern-day gypsy lifestyle is what you need.
Gypsies are a group of nomadic people with Indo-Aryan origins, whereas hippies are members of the counterculture of the 1960s. The key difference between gypsy and hippie is that gypsies prefer an itinerant life while hippies prefer freedom from prevailing social norms.
For example, “gypsy” costumes often mock and caricature Roma people, and “wild native” or “savage” costumes dehumanize and misrepresent indigenous peoples. Such behavior is culturally insensitive and always inappropriate.
Romani women's fashion is loose-fitting, bright, and bohemian. Many unique layers are common from their clothes to their jewelry. Their style is well known for its expression, individualism, and connection to nature, often with items like feathers used to accessorize.
Oriental Gypsies themselves are tattooed when it is the custom generally in the East. But the Euro- pean Gypsies are never tattooed. Hence their tattooing is an easy mode of identifying Oriental Gypsies who are often seen in all parts of Europe and America.
Romani, the common language of the Roma, the Sinti, the Kale and other European popula- tion groups summarised by the pejorative denomination gypsies, belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family and is the only New-Indo-Aryan language spo- ken exclusively outside of the Indian subcontinent.
Some of the better known areas of work that Gypsies and Travellers are involved in include seasonal agricultural work, motor trading and tree-felling. Some are employed as academics, teachers and public servants and in this way they add to the local economy.
In Romania, it's illegal for underage minors to wed. But Roma gypsy communities continue to hold unofficial wedding ceremonies for children as young as 13.
Yet the dedication to cleaning – born during nomadic days when keeping wagons clear from dust and dirt on the road was a tough undertaking for traveller women – remains important. As a result, cleaning is a process that takes priority over everything else – including school.
June, A flat to D, the older version of June. Plays approx 15 - 16 years old: Pretty, talented and frustrated with her mom's domination. Louise, C# to Eb, plays approx 17-18; the older version of Louise: Shy and loyal. At her mom's prodding, she becomes the famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee.
The bride and groom arrive separately at the church; after they have been "crowned," they travel together to the reception. There they kneel, holding icons while elders bless them with bread and salt. In some weddings, a procession circles the bride, who carries a staff.
Common Gypsy names
You may have Romani, Traveller or Gypsy ancestry if your family tree includes common Romani or Gypsy surnames such as Boss, Boswell, Buckland, Chilcott, Codona, Cooper, Doe, Lee, Gray (or Grey), Harrison, Hearn, Heron, Hodgkins, Holland, Lee, Lovell, Loveridge, Scamp, Smith, Wood and Young.