True gypsies (Roma). Roma nationality, its representatives

Gypsies are one of the most, perhaps, incomprehensible and mythologized peoples on our planet, and this has been the case for many centuries. There are rumors around the world that when gypsies come to town, they seduce men and women and then steal everything they see, including children.

There are also many myths about cunning and mysterious gypsy fortune-tellers and gypsy camps. In any case, even if we put all the myths and misconceptions aside, the gypsies remain one of the most interesting ethnic groups in history.

WHERE THEY COME FROM

The origin of the gypsies is shrouded in mystery. Sometimes it seemed that they appeared on the planet by some mysteriously. This in itself may have evoked a sense of fear among the Europeans and contributed to an atmosphere of mystery around the Roma. Modern scholars suggest that the Gypsies originally migrated en masse from India in the fifth century.

This theory suggests that their flight was due to the spread of Islam, which the Roma were desperate to avoid in order to protect their religious freedom. This theory claims that the Gypsies migrated from India to Anatolia and further to Europe, where they split into three separate branches: Domari, Lomavren, and the Gypsies themselves. Another theory suggests that there were as many as three separate migrations over several centuries.

THE NOMADIC LIFESTYLE OF THE GYPSIES

Many stereotypes have been formed around the gypsies for a long time. Who does not know the phrase “gypsy soul” (which is applied to freedom-loving people). According to these stereotypes, gypsies prefer to live, as they say, not in the “mainstream” and shun social norms to be able to lead a nomadic life full of fun and dancing. The truth is much darker.

For many centuries, the Roma were often forcibly expelled from the countries in which they lived. Such forced evictions continue to this day. Many historians have suggested that true reason The nomadic lifestyle of the Gypsies is very simple: survival.

Gypsies have no homeland

Gypsies are people without a specific citizenship. Most countries refuse to grant them citizenship, even if they were born in that country. Centuries of persecution and their closed community have left the Gypsies with no homeland. In 2000, the Roma were officially declared a non-territorial nation. This lack of citizenship renders Roma legally “invisible”.

Although they are not subject to the laws of any country, they cannot access education, health care and other social services. Moreover, the Roma cannot even obtain passports, which makes their travel very difficult or impossible.

Gypsy persecution

It's worth starting with the fact that the gypsies were actually enslaved people in Europe, especially in the 14th - 19th centuries. They were traded and sold like a commodity, and they were considered "subhuman". In the 1700s, Maria Theresa, the Empress of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, passed a law that outlawed the gypsies. This was done to force the Roma to integrate into society.

Similar laws have been passed in Spain, and many European countries Gypsies were banned from entering their territory. The Nazi regime also persecuted and exterminated Roma by the tens of thousands. Even today, gypsies are persecuted.

NO ONE KNOWS HOW MANY GYPSIES THERE ARE IN THE WORLD

No one knows how many gypsies live all over the world today. Because of the discrimination Roma often face, many of them do not publicly register or identify as Roma. In addition, given their “legal invisibility”, the birth of children without documents and frequent moves, many Roma are listed as missing.

Also problematic is that Roma are not provided with social services, which would help to paint a clearer picture of their numbers. However, The New York Times estimates the number of Roma worldwide at 11 million, a figure often disputed.

Gypsies - an offensive word

For many people, the term "gypsy" means nomad and is not considered a racial slur. But for the “Roma” themselves (or “Romals” - the self-name of the gypsies), this word has ominous overtones. For example, according to the Oxford Dictionary English word“gypped” (derived from “gypsie” - gypsies) means a criminally punishable act.

Roma, often referred to as gypsies, were considered losers and thieves, a word burned into their skin during the Nazi regime. Like many other racial slurs, the word "Gypsy" has been used for centuries to oppress the Roma.

FUTURE, CHEAP…

There are many myths surrounding gypsies. One of these myths says that the gypsies have their own magic, which has been passed down for centuries from generation to generation. The myth is associated with tarot cards, crystal balls and fortune-telling tents, as well as other stereotypes. The literature is replete with references to gypsy language and magical arts of this people.

In addition, there are many films that show the curses of gypsies. Even in art, there are many paintings describing Roma as mystical and magical people. However, many scientists believe that all this magic is fiction, derived from the fact that people simply did not know anything about gypsies at all.

NO FORMAL RELIGION

European folklore often claims that the Roma made a temple out of cream cheese. Presumably, they ate it when a period of severe famine set in, so they were left without an official religion. As a rule, gypsies join the church that is the most common in the country in which they live. However, there are many traditional gypsy beliefs. Some scholars believe that there are many links between Roma beliefs and Hinduism.

MODESTY

Although gypsy weddings often accompanied by mass festivities and luxurious attire, one of their main life principles, modesty, is reflected in the everyday clothes of the gypsies. Gypsy dances are most often associated with women's belly dancing. However, many gypsy women never performed what is commonly considered belly dancing today.

Instead, they perform traditional dances, in which only the stomachs are used for movement, but not the hips, since the movement of the hips is considered immodest. In addition, the long, flowing skirts commonly worn by gypsies serve to cover their legs, as exposing the legs is also considered immodest.

THE GYPSY CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD CULTURE IS HUGE

From the very beginning of their existence, the gypsies have been closely associated with singing, dancing and acting. They carried this tradition over the centuries, significantly influenced world art. Many gypsies assimilated into different cultures, influencing them. Many singers, actors, artists, etc. had gypsy roots.

- Bohemiens("Bohemians", "Czechs"), Gitans(corrupted spanish Gitanos) or Tsiganes(borrowing from Greek - τσιγγάνοι, qingani), Germans - Zigeuner, Italians - Zingari, Dutch - Zigeuners, Hungarians - Cigany or faraok nepe("Pharaoh's tribe"), Georgians - ბოშები (boshebi), Finns - mustalaiset("black"), Kazakhs - sygandar, Lezgins - karachiyar("hypocrites, pretenders"); Basques - Ijitoak; Albanians - Jevgjit("Egyptians"); Jews - צוענים (tso'anim), from the name of the biblical province of Tsoan in Ancient Egypt; Persians - کولی (if); Lithuanians - Čigonai; Bulgarians - Tsigani; Estonians - "mustlased" (from "Must" - black). At present, ethnonyms from the self-name of a part of the gypsies, "Roma" (eng. Roma, Czech Romové, Fin. romanite, etc.).

Thus, in the "external" by origin names of the gypsy population, three prevail:

• reflecting the early idea of ​​them as coming from Egypt;
• distorted versions of the Byzantine nickname "atsinganos" (meaning "fortunetellers, magicians");
• designations for "blackness" distinguishing feature looks made on different languages(which is typical, one of the self-names of the gypsies is also translated as "black")

Gypsies live in many countries in Europe, as well as in North Africa, the Americas and Australia. Groups related to European gypsies also live in the countries of Western Asia. According to various estimates, the number of European gypsies ranges from 8 million to 10-12 million people. In the USSR, there were officially 175.3 thousand people ( census). In Russia, according to the 2010 census, there are about 220,000 Roma.

National symbols

In honor of the first World Roma Congress, April 8 is considered Gypsy day. Some gypsies have a custom associated with it: in the evening, in certain time carry a lighted candle down the street.

History of the people

Indian period

The most common self-name of the gypsies, which they carried out from India, is “rum” or “roma” among the European gypsies, “house” among the gypsies of the Middle East and Asia Minor. All these names go back to the Indo-Aryan "d'om" with the first cerebral sound. Cerebral sound, relatively speaking, is a cross between the sounds "p", "d" and "l". According to linguistic studies, the Roma of Europe and the Dom and Lom of Asia and the Caucasus were the three main "flows" of migrants from India. Called d'om in various fields modern India low-caste groups figure in these days. Despite the fact that the modern houses of India are difficult to directly correlate with the gypsies, their name has a direct bearing on them. The difficulty is to understand what was the connection in the past between the ancestors of the Gypsies and the Indian houses. The results of linguistic research conducted back in the 20s. XX century by a prominent Indologist-linguist R. L. Turner, and which are shared by modern scientists, in particular, romologists J. Matras and J. Hancock, show that the ancestors of the Gypsies lived in the central regions of India and several centuries before the exodus (approximately in the 3rd century BC) migrated to Northern Punjab.

As regards the so-called Central Asian gypsies, or lyuli, then they, as they are sometimes figuratively said, are cousins ​​​​or even second cousins ​​\u200b\u200bof European gypsies. Thus, the Central Asian gypsy population, having absorbed various flows of migrants from the Punjab (including the Baloch groups) over the centuries, has historically been heterogeneous (see, for example, an early description of the Central Asian gypsies: Vilkins A. I. Central Asian bohemia // Anthropological exhibition T. III. M., 1878-1882).

In the book "History of the Gypsies. A New Look"(N. Bessonov, N. Demeter) examples of anti-Gypsy laws are given:

Sweden. A 1637 law mandates the hanging of male Gypsies. Mainz. 1714. Death to all gypsies captured within the state. Flogging and branding with a red-hot iron of women and children. England. According to the law of 1554, the death penalty for men. According to an additional decree of Elizabeth I, the law was tightened. From now on, execution awaited "those who lead or will lead friendship or acquaintance with the Egyptians." Already in 1577, seven Englishmen and one Englishwoman fell under this decree. All of them were hanged in Aylesbury. Historian Scott McPhee lists 148 laws adopted in the German states from the 15th to the 18th centuries. All of them were approximately the same, the diversity is manifested only in the details. So, in Moravia, the gypsies cut off the left ear, in Bohemia, the right. In the Archduchy of Austria, they preferred to stigmatize and so on. Perhaps the most cruel was Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia. In 1725, he ordered that all male and female gypsies over eighteen years of age be put to death.

Picture from french entertainment magazine, depicting gypsies during the preparation of human meat

As a result of the persecution of the gypsies Western Europe, firstly, they were heavily criminalized, because they did not have the opportunity to legally earn their living, and secondly, they were practically culturally conserved (until now, the gypsies of Western Europe are considered the most distrustful and committed to literally following ancient traditions). They also had to lead a special way of life: moving around at night, hiding in forests and caves, which increased the suspicion of the population, and also gave rise to rumors about cannibalism, Satanism, vampirism and werewolf gypsies, the consequence of these rumors was the emergence of myths associated with them about kidnapping and especially children (for eating or for satanic rites) and about the ability to evil spells.

Some of the Gypsies managed to avoid repression by enlisting in the army as soldiers or servants (blacksmiths, saddlers, grooms, etc.) in those countries where soldiers were actively recruited (Sweden, Germany). Their families were thus also taken out from under the blow. The ancestors of Russian Gypsies came to Russia through Poland from Germany, where they mainly served in the army or with the army, so at first they had a nickname among other Gypsies, translated roughly as “army Gypsies”.

The abolition of anti-gypsy laws coincides in time with the beginning of the industrial revolution and Europe's exit from the economic crisis. After the abolition of these laws, the process of integration of the Roma into European society began. So, during the 19th century, the gypsies in France, according to Jean-Pierre Lejoie, author of the article “Bohemiens et pouvoirs publics en France du XV-e au XIX-e siecle”, mastered professions due to which they were recognized and even began to be appreciated: they they sheared sheep, weaved baskets, traded, were hired as day laborers in seasonal agricultural work, were dancers and musicians.

However, by that time, anti-Gypsy myths were already firmly rooted in the European consciousness. Now their traces can be seen in fiction, linking gypsies with a passion for kidnapping children (whose goals are becoming less and less clear over time), werewolves and serving vampires.

The abolition of antigypsy laws by that time did not occur in all European countries. So, in Poland on November 3, 1849, a decision was made to arrest nomadic gypsies. For each detained gypsy, the policemen were paid bonus amounts. As a result, the police seized not only nomadic, but also settled gypsies, recording the detainees as vagrants, and children as adults (in order to get more money). After the Polish uprising of 1863, this law lost its force.

It can also be noted that, starting with the abolition of anti-gypsy laws, among the gypsies, individuals who were gifted in certain areas began to appear, stand out and receive recognition in non-gypsy society, which is another evidence of the situation that has developed more or less favorable for gypsies. So, in Great Britain in the 19th and early 20th centuries, these are preacher Rodney Smith, football player Rayby Howell, radio journalist and writer George Bramwell Evens; in Spain, the Franciscan Ceferino Jimenez Mallya, tokaor Ramon Montoya Salazar Sr.; in France, the jazzmen brothers Ferre and Django Reinhardt; in Germany - boxer Johann Trollmann.

Gypsies in Eastern Europe (XV - early XX century)

Gypsy migration to Europe

At the beginning of the 15th century, a significant part of the Byzantine gypsies led a semi-sedentary lifestyle. Gypsies were known not only in the Greek regions of Byzantium, but also in Serbia, Albania, the lands of modern Romania (see slavery in Romania) and Hungary. They settled in villages or urban settlements, gathering compactly according to the signs of kinship and profession. The main crafts were working with iron and precious metals, carving household items from wood, weaving baskets. Nomadic gypsies also lived in these areas, who were also engaged in crafts or circus performances using trained bears.

The sons and heirs of the deceased serdar Nikolai Niko, in Bucharest, are selling 200 families of gypsies. Men for the most part locksmiths, goldsmiths, shoemakers, musicians and farmers.

Monastery of St. Elijah put up for sale the first lot of gypsy slaves, May 8, 1852, consisting of 18 men, 10 boys, 7 women and 3 girls: in excellent condition.

Gypsies in Europe and the USSR / Russia (the second half of the 20th - the beginning of the 21st century)

In contemporary Eastern Europe, less commonly in Western Europe, Romani people are often the object of discrimination in society, especially by right-wing extremist parties, in 2009 attacks on Romanian Romani people were reported in Northern Ireland

At the end of XX - early XXI century, Europe and Russia were swept by a wave of gypsy migrations. Impoverished or marginalized Roma from Romania, western Ukraine and former Yugoslavia- former socialist countries in which economic and social difficulties arose after the collapse of the USSR - went to work in the European Union and Russia. Nowadays, they can be seen literally at any crossroads of the world, the women of these gypsies have massively returned to the old traditional occupation - begging, drug trafficking and petty theft are also common.

In Russia, there is also a slower but noticeable impoverishment, marginalization and criminalization of the Roma population. The average educational level has decreased. The problem of drug use by teenagers has become acute. Quite often, gypsies began to be mentioned in the criminal chronicle in connection with drug trafficking and fraud. The popularity of gypsy musical art has noticeably decreased. At the same time, the gypsy press and gypsy literature were revived.

In Europe and Russia, there is an active cultural borrowing between gypsies of different nationalities, a common gypsy music and dance culture is emerging, which is strongly influenced by the culture of Russian gypsies.

Gypsies outside Europe

Gypsies in Israel

• Gypsy house. in Israel and neighboring countries home to a community of gypsies known as the people of the house. By religion, the house is Muslim, they speak one of the dialects of the gypsy language (the so-called Domari language). Until 1948, in the ancient city of Jaffa, near Tel Aviv, there was an Arabic-speaking dom community whose members took part in street theater and circus performances. They became the subject of the play "Gypsies of Jaffa" (Hebrew הצוענים של יפו ‎), the last to be written by Nissim Aloni, a famous Israeli playwright. The play has come to be considered a classic of Israeli theatre. Like many Jaffa Arabs, most of the representatives of this community left the city at the call of neighboring Arab countries. The descendants of the community, as suggested [ Who?], now live in the Gaza Strip, and it is not known to what extent they still maintain a separate Domari identity. Another Dom community is known to exist in East Jerusalem, whose members hold Jordanian citizenship; in Israel have the status of permanent residents, the nationality is defined as "Arabs". In total, the community home in Israel has about two hundred families, most of them from the Bab al-Khuta area, which is in East Jerusalem near the Lion's Gate. Members of the community live in very poor conditions: most of them are unemployed and subsist only on Israeli social security benefits, they have no education, and some of them can neither read nor write. Domari have a high birth rate, they marry in early age and only on members of their community, including relatives (in an effort to avoid assimilation and dissolution), so some children suffer from hereditary diseases, defects or are disabled. In October 1999, Amun Slim founded the non-profit organization Domari: Society of Gypsies in Jerusalem to protect the name of the community. ,

In October 2012, the mayor of the capital, Nir Barkat, was approached by the mayor of the capital, Nir Barkat, with a request for assistance in obtaining Israeli citizenship for his compatriots. According to him, the gypsies are much closer in their views to the Jews than to the Arabs: they love Israel, and their children would like to serve in the IDF. According to the leader of the community, the Israeli Gypsies have practically forgotten their language and speak Arabic, while the Palestinians and Israeli Arabs consider the Gypsies to be "second-class" people.

Gypsies in North Africa

North Africa is home to the Kale Gypsies, also known as the Andalusian Gypsies, and Dom. Film director Tony Gatlif is a Kale from Algeria. North African kale is worn in gypsy world the nickname "Moors" and often use it themselves (for example, both Tony Gatlif and Joaquin Cortes, whose father is from North Africa, call themselves "Moor" or "half-Moor").

Gypsies in Canada and the USA

Gypsies in Latin America

The first documented mention of the presence of gypsies (kale) in Latin America (in the Caribbean) dates back to 1539. The first gypsies were exiled there against their will, but in the future, the Spanish kale and Portuguese calons (groups related to each other) did not large groups began to move to Latin America in search of a better life.

The largest wave of European Gypsy migration to Latin America occurred in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The most noticeable part of the settlers were kelderars, among the rest of the gypsies one can mention the Lovars, Ludars, as well as groups of Balkan gypsies, known collectively as the Khorakhane. They continued to move to America and Calais and Calons.

Among all the gypsies Latin America It is very popular to run a small business selling cars.

Gypsies in the Caucasus

Gypsies in different countries are characterized by uneven development of areas of high culture. So, most of the gypsy artists are natives of Hungary, the most developed musical culture among the gypsies of Russia, Hungary, Romania, Spain, the Balkan countries, gypsy literature on this moment more developed in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine and Russia, acting - in Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia. Circus art - in the countries of South America.

With all the diversity of gypsy culture among different ethnic groups, one can note a similar system of values ​​and perception of the world.

Gypsy "big" ethnic groups

There are six main branches of the Gypsies. Three Western:

• Roma, the main territory of residence is the countries of the former USSR, Western and Eastern Europe. These include Russian gypsies (self-name Ruska Roma).
• Sinti, living mainly in the German-speaking and French-speaking countries of Europe.
• Iberian (gypsies), living mainly in Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries.

And three eastern ones:

• Lyuli, the main territory of residence is Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan.
• Scrap (known mainly as bosha or posha) living in the Caucasus and northern Turkey.
• House living in Arabic-speaking countries and Israel.

There are also small gypsy groups, which are difficult to attribute to any particular branch of the gypsies, such as British kale and Romanichels, Scandinavian kale, Balkan Horakhane, Arkhangelsk gypsies.

In Europe, there are a number of ethnic groups that are similar in lifestyle to the Gypsies, but of a different origin - in particular, Irish Travelers, Central European Yenish. Local authorities tend to view them as a variety of gypsies, and not as separate ethnic groups.

The image of gypsies in world art culture

Gypsies in world literature

• Notre Dame Cathedral - novel by V. Hugo France
• Ice House - novel by A. Lazhechnikov Russia
• Living corpse - a play by L. N. Tolstoy Russia
• The Enchanted Wanderer - a novel by Nikolai Leskov Russia
• Olesya - story, Alexander Kuprin Russia
• Pharaoh's tribe - essay, Alexander Kuprin Russia
• Cactus - story by Afanasy Fet Russia
• Nedopyuskin and Chertop-hanov - I. Turgenev Russia
• Carmen - novel by Prosper Merimee France
• Stars of Eger - a novel by Geza Gordoni Hungary
• Makar Chudra, Old Woman Izergil - short stories by M. Gorky Russia
• Gypsy Aza - play by A. Staritsky Ukraine
• Gypsy Girl - M. Cervantes Spain
• Gypsy Romancero - a collection of poems by Federico Garcia Lorca Spain
• Pipe - a story by Yuri Nagibin USSR
• Gypsy - story, novel Anatoly Kalinin USSR
• The Gypsy Lady - a novel by Sh.Busby USA
• Losing Weight - a novel by S. King USA

Many famous poets also dedicated cycles of poems and individual works to the gypsy theme: G. Derzhavin, A. Apukhtin, A. Blok, Apollon Grigoriev, N. M. Yazykov, E. Asadov and many others.

Songs about gypsies

• Slavich Moroz: "Gypsy love" ( Video , video)
• Vysotsky: “A gypsy with cards is a long road ..” ( Video)
• "Fortuneteller" - a song from the movie "Ah, vaudeville, vaudeville ..."
• "Gypsy Choir" - Alla Pugacheva
• "Boots" - Lidia Ruslanova
• "Gypsy wedding" - Tamara Gverdtsiteli ( Video)
• "Shaggy Bumblebee" - a song from the movie "Cruel Romance" on the verses of R. Kipling
• "The Gipsy" and "A Gipsy's Kiss" - Deep Purple
• "Gypsy" - Mercyful Fate
• "Hijo de la luna" - Mecano
• "Gypsy" - Black Sabbath
• "Gypsy" - Dio
• "Cry Of The Gypsy" - Dokken
• "Zigeunerpack" - Landser
• "Gypsy In Me" - Stratovarius
• "Gitano Soy" - Gipsy Kings
• "Ocean Gypsy" - Blackmore's Night
• "Electro Gypsy" - Savlonic
• "Gypsy/Gitana" - Shakira
• "Gypsy" - Uriah Heep
• "Gypsy Boots" - Aerosmith
• "Gypsy Road" - Cinderella
• "Gypsy Nazi" - S.E.X. Department
• "Gypsy" - Ektomorph
• "Cigany" - Ektomorph
• "Gipsy King" - Patrick Wolf
• "Hometown Gypsy" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
• "Gypsy Blues" - Night Snipers
• "The camp goes to the sky" - Calvados

Films about gypsies

• "Guardian Angel", Yugoslavia (1986), director Goran Paskalevich
• "Run, gypsy!"
• "Snatch" directed by Guy Ritchie
• "Time of the Gypsies", Yugoslavia, director Emir Kusturica
• "Gadjo (film)", 1992, Director: Dmitry Svetozarov Russia
• "Sinful Apostles of Love" (1995), director Dufunya Vishnevsky Russia
• "Drama in the camp of gypsies near Moscow" - Khanzhonkov's workshop 1908, director Vladimir Siversen Russia
• Yesenia, (Spanish Yesenia; Mexico, 1971) director Alfred B. Crevenna
• "Hare over the abyss" 2006, director Tigran Keosayan Russia
• "Carmelita" 2005, directors Rauf Kubaev, Yuri Popovich Russia
• "Cassandra", Genre: Series, melodrama Production: Venezuela, R.C.T.V. Released: 1992 Screenplay: Delia Fiallo
• "King of the Gypsies" - director Frank Pearson (1978) USA
• "Lautari", directed by Emil Loteanu USSR
• "The Last Camp", (1935) Directors: Evgeny Shneider, Moses Goldblat, USSR
• " On my own"(gypsy Korkoro, 2009) - drama film, directed by Tony Gatlif.
• "Feathers", 1967, Yugoslavia, (Serb. Skupljaci perja), director Alexander Petrovich
• Strange Stranger (1997) Gadjo Dilo Gadjo dilo, directed by Tony Gatlif
• "The camp goes to the sky", director Emil Loteanu USSR
• "Difficult Happiness" - Directed by Alexander Stolper. 1958

"Gypsies" is a collective term, the same as "Slavs", "Caucasians", "Scandinavians" or "Hispanics". Gypsies include several dozen nationalities.

Gypsies have a national anthem, flag and artistic culture, including literature.

Gypsies are conditionally divided into eastern and western.

The word "lave" in Russian jargon is borrowed from the gypsy language, where it has the form "love" (gypsies do not "akay") and the meaning is "money".

An earring in one ear of a gypsy means that he is the only son in the family.

Gypsies as a nation were formed in Persia (eastern branch) and the Roman Empire (aka Romea, aka Byzantium; western branch). In general, usually, when speaking of gypsies, they mean precisely the western gypsies (Roma and Kale groups).

Since the Roma are Caucasians and originated as a nation in a European country, they are Europeans, and not a “mysterious oriental people”, as journalists like to write. Of course, like the Russians and the Spaniards, they have some legacy of the Eastern mentality.

"Eastern" gypsies began to be called gypsies only in the 19th and 20th centuries, when Europeans visiting Asia drew attention to their resemblance to gypsies, as well as some common crafts and traditions. The "Eastern" Gypsies have a culture that differs sharply from the "general Gypsies" (i.e., the culture of the noticeably more numerous and culturally developed "Western" Gypsies), although they both have a common cultural heritage of Indian ancestors. "Eastern" and "Western" gypsies practically do not communicate.

Romani languages ​​are overwhelmingly descendants of Sanskrit. Ethnically, the gypsies are the descendants of the Aryans, with a Dravidian admixture (the Dravidians are indigenous people India, conquered by the Aryans, one of the oldest written cultures, at the time of the conquest was more developed than the culture of the nomadic Aryans).

Contrary to the claims of some people who are far from ethnography and history, no "expulsion of the gypsies" from India and the Roman Empire was ever an event. There were no gypsies in India at all, there were Indians. According to the latest genetic and linguistic studies, the ancestors of the Gypsies, a group of Hindus of the "home" caste of about 1000 people, left India sometime in the 6th century. It is assumed that the Indian ruler presented this group of musicians and jewelers to the Persian, as was the custom of that time. Already in Persia, the size of the group grew greatly, a social division appeared within it (mainly by profession); part of the pratsygans in the 9th-10th centuries began to gradually move westward and finally reached Byzantium and Palestine (two different branches). Part remained in Persia and from there spread to the east. Some of these gypsies, in the end, reached their homeland distant ancestors- India.

The gypsies left Byzantium during the period of its conquest by Muslims, in the hope of getting help from fellow Christians (people and times were naive). The exodus from the Roman Empire lasted for decades. Some of the Gypsies, however, for various reasons, remained in their homeland. Their descendants eventually converted to Islam.

There is a hypothesis that the gypsies received the nickname "Egyptians" back in Byzantium, for their swarthyness and for the fact that the most conspicuous part of the gypsies were engaged, like visiting Egyptians, circus art. Another nickname was also connected with circus art and divination, from which the word “gypsies” also came: “atsingans”. Initially, this was the name of some sectarians seeking secret knowledge. But over time, apparently, the word has become a household word, ironic for anyone who is engaged in esotericism, magic tricks, divination and divination. The gypsies themselves then called themselves "Roma" and gave themselves the nickname "Kale", that is, dark-haired, swarthy

It is believed that it was the gypsies who widely spread belly dance in Muslim countries. However, there is no proof or refutation of this.

Traditional Gypsy occupations are the arts, trade, horse breeding and handicrafts (from prosaic brick making and basket weaving to romantic jewelry and embroidery).

Soon after coming to Europe, the gypsies became one of the victims of major socio-economic crises and were subjected to severe persecution. This has led to strong marginalization and criminalization of Roma. From the complete annihilation of the gypsies, on the whole, the neutral or friendly attitude of the majority of the common people, who did not want to carry out bloody laws against the gypsies, saved them.

It is said that the famous Papus learned fortune telling from the gypsies.

The Inquisition was never interested in gypsies.

Medicine knows no cases of leprosy among the gypsies. The most common blood types among gypsies are III and I. The percentage of III and IV blood is very high compared to other European nations.

In the Middle Ages, Gypsies, like Jews, were accused of cannibalism.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, with increasing tolerance for them in European society, the criminality of the Gypsies dropped sharply and greatly. In the 19th century, a very rapid process of gypsy integration into society began in Europe.

Gypsies came to Russia more than 300 years ago. Like other now rooted peoples (for example, the Kalmyks), they received imperial permission to live in Russia and engage in traditional crafts (trade, horse breeding, fortune telling, singing and dancing). After some time, these gypsies began to call themselves Russian Roma, until now it is the most numerous of the gypsy nationalities in Russia. By 1917, the Russian Roma were the most integrated and educated Roma in Russia.

At various times, Kalderars (Kotlyars), Lovaris, Serves, Ursaris, Vlachs and other gypsies also immigrated to Russia.

Almost all the names of Romani nationalities are either the names of key professions or reflect the name of the country they consider to be their home. This says a lot about gypsy priorities.

famous gypsy National Costume was invented in the 19th century. The Kalderars were the first to wear it. The Russian Roma national costume was invented by the artists to create a more exotic stage image. Historically, gypsies have always tended to wear clothing specific to their country of residence.

Gypsies are notorious pacifists. However, at different times they served in the armies and in the armies of Germany, Prussia, Sweden and Russia. In 1812, Russian gypsies voluntarily transferred to the maintenance of the Russian army large sums. Young gypsy guys fought as part of the Russian troops. At the same time, which is funny, many French gypsies fought in Napoleon's army. There is even a description of the meeting during the battle between the Spaniards and the French of two gypsies from different sides. During the Second World War, the gypsies participated in hostilities as part of both regular armies (USSR, France; privates, tankers, military engineers, pilots, medics, artillerymen, etc.), and partisan groups, mixed and purely gypsy (USSR , France, Eastern Europe). Gypsy guerrilla actions against the Nazis are sometimes called "Aryans against the Aryans".

As a result of the systematic targeted extermination of Roma by the Nazis, about 150,000 (for comparison, in the USSR lived from 60,000, according to the census, to 120,000, according to assumptions) died in Europe. The "Gypsy Holocaust" is called Kali Trash (there are also variants of Samudaripan and Paraimos).

Among the prominent Gypsies there are scientists, writers, poets, composers, musicians, singers, dancers, actors, directors, boxers (including champions), football players, historians, politicians, priests, missionaries, artists and sculptors. Some are better known, for example, like Mariska Veres, Ion Voicu, Janos Bihari, Jem Mays, Mateo Maximov, Yul Brynner, Tony Gatlif, Bob Hoskins, Nikolay Slichenko, Django Reinhardt, Bireli Lagren, others less, but also can boast of significant contributions to gypsy culture.

If you see the phrase “nomadic people” without quotes in an article about Russian gypsies, you can not read it. The author will not write anything really reliable if he does not even know the fact that only 1% of Russian gypsies wander.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, despite the fact that in the media, according to the mention in criminal articles, gypsy frauds are in the first place, they are in the last place in the statistics. Ethnographers believe that the situation with gypsy fraud and drug trafficking is similar in Russia.

During Stalin's time, Roma were subjected to targeted repression.

The term "gypsy baron" has been used by gypsies for only the last couple of decades, and by no means by all. This is a borrowing from the media and romantic literature. The term is used specifically to communicate with non-Roma.

There are several notable gypsy theaters in the world: in Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Germany, as well as smaller theaters and studios in these and other countries.

One of the most interesting gypsy concepts is the concept of "filth". It is associated with the lower body of a married or just an adult woman. It is enough for her to walk over something, as this place becomes "desecrated". Clothes worn below the waist by a woman and shoes are automatically considered "desecrated". Therefore, many gypsies of the world include a large apron in the women's national costume. And for the same reason, in order not to be defiled, gypsies prefer to live in small, one-story houses.

Gypsy short hair is a symbol of dishonor. Hair was cut off by the exiled and isolated. Until now, the gypsies avoid very short haircuts.

Roma, Gypsies, Roma are a traditionally itinerant people originally from North India, spread throughout the world, mainly in Europe.

Language and origin

Most Romani speak a form of Romani, closely related to the modern Indo-European languages ​​of North India, and also the main language of the country in which they live. It is generally accepted that Romani groups left India many times, and by the 11th century they were already in Persia, in early XIV V. - in South-Eastern Europe, and in the XV century. reached Western Europe. By the second half of the twentieth century. they spread over all inhabited continents.

Persons of the Roma nationality refer to themselves by the common name "Roma" (which means "man" or "husband"), and all non-Roma by the term "gadzho" or "gadzho" (a word with a derogatory connotation that means "hillbilly" or "barbarian" ). Many Roma consider the name "Gypsies" offensive.

Demography

Due to their nomadic lifestyle, lack of official census data, and their mixing with other nomadic groups, estimates of the total global number of Roma are in the range of two to five million people. No reliable statistics can be obtained from sporadic reporting across countries. The majority of Roma still live in Europe, especially in the Slavic-speaking states of Central Europe and the Balkans. Many of them live in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Hungary, the countries of the former Yugoslavia and neighboring Bulgaria and Romania.

Eternal migrants

The stereotype of nomadic gypsies is often at odds with the fact that fewer and fewer of them are truly constantly migrating. However, their travel is limited. All nomadic Roma migrate along established routes that ignore national borders. They also follow a chain of kinship or tribal ties.

Roma predisposition to forced expulsions or deportations. 80 years after their first appearance in Western Europe in the 15th century, they were expelled from almost all countries of Western Europe. Despite the fact that Roma nationality became the cause of systematic persecution and export abroad, however, gypsies continued to appear in one form or another in the countries they left.

Objects of persecution

All non-settled groups living among settled peoples seem to be becoming comfortable. The same is the case with the Roma, who were regularly accused by the local population of many atrocities, which was a prelude to further official and legal persecution. Their relationship with host country authorities was marked by consistent controversy. Official decrees were often directed at their assimilation or coercion, but the local authorities systematically denied them the right to set up their camp.

During the Holocaust, the only fault of the Roma was their Roma, which led to the murder of 400,000 Roma by the Nazis.

French laws in our time forbid them to camp and made them the object of police supervision, taxed them and called for military service like ordinary citizens.

Spain and Wales are two countries that are often cited as examples of states where the Gypsies have become settled, if not fully assimilated.

Recently, the countries of the socialist camp of Eastern Europe attempted to implement forced settlement programs to end their nomadic lifestyle.

Gypsy professions

Traditionally, the Roma were engaged in jobs that allowed them to maintain a nomadic lifestyle, on the periphery of a sedentary society. The men were cattle dealers, animal trainers and entertainers, tinkers, blacksmiths, kitchen utensils menders, and musicians; women told fortunes, sold potions, begged and entertained the public.

Before the advent of veterinary medicine, many farmers sought out gypsies for advice on animal husbandry and herd health.

The modern life of the Roma reflects the "progress" of the Gajo world. Journeys are now made in caravans of cars, trucks and trailers, and the livestock trade has been replaced by the sale of used cars and trailers. Although the mass production of kitchen utensils has put tinkers out of work, some urban gypsies have become auto mechanics and repair car bodies. If some Roma people still lead a nomadic lifestyle, then many have settled down, practicing their skills or working as laborers. Traveling circuses and amusement parks also provide jobs modern gypsies as trainers, stalls and fortune tellers.

Family

The classic Roma family consists of a married couple, their unmarried children, and at least one married son, his wife, and their children. After marriage, the young couple usually lives with the husband's parents until the young wife gets to know the way of life of her husband's family. Ideally, by the time the eldest son is ready to leave with his family, the youngest son will marry and bring his new wife into the family. Previously, marriages were traditionally organized by family or group elders to strengthen political and family ties with other families, groups or, occasionally, confederations, although this practice has been greatly reduced by the end of the 20th century. Main Feature marriage unions of the Roma was the payment of kalym to the parents of the bride by the parents of the groom.

ethnic groups

The distinctive features of a Roma representative are territorial differences, reinforced by certain cultural and dialectal features. There are three main branches, or nations, of the gypsies:

• Kalderars are tinkers who came from the Balkans and then from Central Europe, being the most numerous.
• Iberian gypsies, or zhitanos, are a Romani nationality whose representatives live mainly in the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa and southern France. Strong in the art of entertainment.
• Manouche (from the French manouche), also known as Sinti, is a Romani ethnicity whose representatives live mainly in Alsace and other regions of France and Germany. There are many traveling showmen and circus performers among them.

Each Roma nationality is divided into two or more sub-groups, distinguished by professional specialization or territorial origin.

Political organization

Not a single body, congress was ever officially created, and not a single “king” accepted by all Roma was elected, although “international” Roma congresses were held in Munich, Moscow, Bucharest, Sofia (in 1906) and in the Polish city of Ruvne (in 1936). Nevertheless, the existence of political authorities among the Roma is an established fact. Those who received noble titles such as "duke" or "count" in their early historical dealings with the local population were probably nothing more than chieftains of groups that moved in numbers from 10 to several hundred households. These chiefs (voivods) were elected for life from among prominent families. Their strength and power varied depending on the size of the association, traditions and relationships with other entities within the confederation.

The voivode was the treasurer for the whole group, determined the route of its migration and participated in negotiations with the local municipal authorities. He led through a council of elders who also consulted with the senior woman of the association. The influence of the latter was strong, especially in relation to the fate of women and children, and was based on the apparent ability to earn and organize women within the group.

social control

The strongest institution of the Roma people was the "kris" - the norms of customary law and justice, as well as the ritual and tribunal of the group. The basis of the gypsy code was all-encompassing fidelity, coherence and reciprocity within a recognized political unit. The highest penalty of the tribunal, which dealt with all disputes and violations of the code, was excommunication from the group. The sentence of ostracism could exclude a person from participation in certain activities and punish him by performing unskilled work. In some cases, the elders granted rehabilitation followed by a feast of reconciliation.

social organization

Roma groups are made up of vics, i.e. associations of extended families with common origin both paternal and maternal line with at least 200 people. A large vice may have its own boss and council. You can apply for participation in vice as a result of marriage with a member of the genus. Loyalty and economic cooperation is expected at the level household, and not at the level of the vice. The Romani language does not have a common term for household. A person can probably count on the support of a circle of significant relatives with whom he is physically close and not in a quarrel.

Spiritual Beliefs

Gypsies do not have an official faith, and in the past they tended to despise organized religion. Today, Roma often convert to the dominant religion of the country they live in and describe themselves as "many stars scattered in the eyes of God". Some groups are Catholics, Muslims, Pentecostals, Protestants, Anglicans and Baptists.

Gypsies observe complex set rules that govern such things as neatness, cleanliness, respect, honor, and justice. These rules are called "romano". Romano means to behave with dignity and respect like a Roma person. "Romanipe" is the gypsy name for their worldview.

Tradition keepers

The Roma were the disseminators of folk beliefs and practices in the areas where they settled (for example, Romania), preserving national customs, dances and the like, which have largely disappeared from rural life at the turn of the XXI century. Their musical heritage is huge and includes, for example, flamenco. Although the Gypsies have a rich oral tradition, their written literature is relatively poor.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the Roma continue to struggle with contradictions in their culture. Although they are less likely to have to defend themselves against persecution by a hostile society, some distrust and intolerance still remain. Perhaps an even greater problem they faced was the erosion of their way of life under the influence of the city in industrialized societies. The themes of familial and ethnic loyalty, typical of Roma music, have helped to preserve certain concepts about what Roma nationality is, but some of the younger and more talented exponents of this music, under the influence of material rewards, moved away into external world. Individual housing, economic independence and mixed marriages with non-Roma became more common.

Until our time, there were many myths and legends about the origin of the gypsies. Probably the most common of them is that the gypsies are the descendants of the inhabitants of Atlantis, which has sunk into oblivion. I would like to believe... A beautiful legend, but, of course, all this comes from ignorance of world history, ignorance of the Gypsy culture, language, customs, customs. In our time, at dawn information technologies and a decent amount of resources, it is no longer a secret to anyone that the gypsies are from India. From which region, province, locality one can argue for a long time and to no avail. Experts say that Indian bands started their career as a result of the economic crisis in India. These are groups, mainly artisans, artists, merchants, who began their career no later than the 6th century. There is an opinion that the Gypsies originated from the Indian caste "Dom", later the name, which was transformed into the well-known "Roma", from which the self-name of all Roma ethnic groups came from. How did economic crisis India on the spread of gypsies in the world? The answer is simple ... The ancestors of the gypsies have too little space left to exist and conduct their trade. Even at the present time, artists cannot exist without tours, merchants move to new places if the demand for their goods has fallen, manufacturers sell their goods in different countries peace. Perhaps someone will ask: "Why did only the ancestors of the Gypsies then start a nomadic?" But I have already given the answer to this question... The economic crisis... It is not necessary for wealthy people to wander in order to live, while Roma groups developed new spaces in small numbers, which is the reason for their long spread. Studying the history of the Gypsies, it is necessary to analyze the formation of the Gypsy language. Almost a third of the gypsy vocabulary is shared with Sanskrit, which once again confirms the Indian origin of the gypsies. From this analysis, it is possible to trace the spread of Gypsy words borrowed from other languages. The Persian and Greek languages ​​had a significant influence on the Romani language. Before rather large groups of gypsies settled in Byzantium (this is the territory of modern Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, etc.), they passed through Persia. In the Balkans, the Roma settled in large groups and for a long time (300-500 years). It's about politics Byzantine Empire, which not only did not drive the gypsies away, but also contributed to the development of their craft. Byzantium was an Orthodox state; many gypsies converted to Christianity. But at the beginning of the 15th century, the territory of Byzantium was significantly reduced due to hostilities, after which many Roma began to leave for Western Europe, although the majority still remained in the Balkans. The Ottoman Empire, which arose later on the site of Byzantium, also properly treated the Roma groups and contributed to the development of their craft. Although in Ottoman Empire Islam was preached, but less than a quarter of the gypsies who remained in the Balkans accepted it; the majority remained faithful to Christianity. Gypsies who migrated to the West faced a difficult fate, because. the countries of Western Europe did not need them at all; Gypsies were outlawed there. Roma groups were vagrants and beggars for everyone. Many were killed, many were branded, trying to expel from their lands. Of course, the persecution of the gypsies left a huge imprint in their psychology, teaching them not to trust anyone but themselves, rallying them and teaching them how to survive in the most difficult situations. At the beginning of the 18th century, gypsies appeared in Russia, where, with their appearance, anti-gypsy laws were not introduced. This is due to the fact that the gypsies came to Russia later than to Europe, where anger against the gypsies had subsided by that time, and Russian policy was aimed at the European way of life. The first gypsies modern group"Russka Roma" came to Russia through Poland and, as a result, ended up in their first major city, St. Petersburg. Later, other Roma groups appeared, coming from the Balkans. Time is running and in ours the gypsies were divided all over the world into different ethnic groups, differing from each other in certain customs, dialects, upbringing and other factors. There are a large number of Roma groups in the world, for example, "Polish Roma"-Polish group, "Latfitska Roma"-Latvian group, "Lithuanian Roma"-Lithuanian group, "Kale"-Spanish group, "Sinti"-German group, "Romanichel "-English group and many others. etc. Gypsy religion is also surrounded by myths ... Some gajyo (non-gypsies) believe that gypsies worship their pagan gods, some believe that the Roma change their faith depending on the environment around them ... But these are all fairy tales ... Yes, not all Roma groups belong to the same faith. It depends on what society they live in: Christian or Muslim. There is not even a conversation about pagan rites. Yes, of course, they existed, but did the Russians have their own specific religion before the adoption of Christianity? No... There were pagan rites. Now some gypsies are very reverent about their faith; be it Islam, be it Christianity, now this faith is Theirs too! I would like others to see modern gypsies not only in poor people asking for their bread, or criminals, but also in the people around them, literate and educated. But if they are nearby, then they hide, for the most part, their nationality because of the opinion that has developed about them!