Copyright Romania Experience 2013 - 2023. 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. 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 . (It was a rainy on my wedding day in Romania, and I cant complain). 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) This is because they believe it will bring them bad luck. And are we talking fingernail or toenail? Being marime or coming into contact with marime things can cause a range of conditions including bad luck, sickness, disease and death. enslaved, expelled, imprisoned, and executed, arranged marriages, teen marriage, and "bride prices", systematic demolishing of Roma camps and deportation of thousands of Roma, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, The absence of Romani information on census returns. At least one window should always be opened at a funeral to allow the spirit to leave. 32. All Rights Reserved. Gypsies also believe that they should not wash their hair on Easter Sunday, as this will bring them bad luck. Maybe not a cause of bad luck, but maybe a bad cold? If you have an itchy right foot, you will leave on a journey. [Answered]. 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. I am half Polish & grew up hearing some funny superstitions, too! However, lots of Roma people do not declare themselves as being of . Im not gonna lie to you, these tales from the past are so crazy and far-fetched, theyll make you wonder who we really are and which era we belong to. . And if you want to keep reading about Romania, why not check out my article about the beautiful Bigar Waterfall or read about the stray dog problem in Romania? We talk about it, sing about itand follow superstitions about it. The vast majority of Romany laws revolve around the belief that the universe is separated into what is clean and what is dirty (marime). Bad luck to walk under a ladder. If you sing before 7 AM, you will cry before 11 PM. Dolores Smyth writes on faith and family. I dont wanna look stupid then! 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. 53. Once married, the man . 47. These are all I can think of right now. From rainmaking to leaving gifts by the window for the fate fairies, discover the most popular Romanian customs, a true gateway to the country's culture. Danior is an unusual choice among our male gypsy names, derived from the Romani word "dand," meaning "tooth," ultimately from the Sanskrit "danta.". During spring, if you go to a party, take a sip of water. Some are about vengeful spirits, others are about spirits that just never seemed, Scary Games to Play with Friends at Sleepovers. If you stay in the corner of the table, you will never get married. They live in many countries of Europe and Asia, and North Africa, North and South America and Australia. The man goes to the girl's family and tells the father they would . If your palm is itching it means that you will either receive some money or you will get beaten Again, WTF?!?!? Not stopping at a stop sign will force the future into your present. Romani folklore encompasses the folktales, myths, oral traditions, and legends of the Romani people.The Romani were nomadic when they departed India during the Middle Ages.They migrated widely, particularly to Europe, while other groups stayed and became sedentary.Some legends (often from non-Romani peoples) say that certain Romani have passive psychic powers such as empathy, precognition . The Romani people (gypsies) have been discriminated against in Europe for centuries. There are an estimated 1 millionRoma living in the United States, arriving here from different countries and speaking different languages. Gypsy is also used as a description for a nomadic or "free-spirited . Romani, or Romany, is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by about 5-6 million Roma people throughtout Europe and the USA. 10 Fascinating Facts About Gypsies. Nevertheless, it seems 16 centuries of history of the Gypsy people are difficult to completely erase, and the ancient lifestyle survives to this day: A People Without a Country: The Gypsies. To earn a living today, gypsies might weave furniture, make bricks, resell clothing and goods, or trade horses, but employment is typically a side note in their existence. Photo Credit: GettyImages/AndyRoland.jpg, 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 6 Truths about Jesus Coming into the World, Inspiring Mother Breaks Down after Earning Golden Buzzer with Celine Dion Hit, 7 Ways Anxiety Dominates the Christian Mind. Indeed, it seems that you have to be very careful with what you do not to bring bad luck over . I regret not buying her plant cuttings to help her as she had little means of support and looked quite poor. Romanians are very superstitious people. is the belief that Gypsies openly accept anyone into their networks; this is false. Their language shares a common origin with, and is similar to, modern-day Gujarati and Rajasthani, borrowing loan words from other . Europe has the largest Romani/Gypsy population, home to an estimated 10 to 12 millionRoma, most of whom live in Central and Eastern Europe. Drawing support from many non-Nazi Germans who harbored social prejudice towards Roma, the Nazis judged Roma to . If your left hand is itching, you will spend some money. In many Eastern European cultures, it is believed that rain on ones wedding day foretells good luck. They do have a Patron Saint, Sara who was queen of a Gypsy tribe in France. Among other things, liquid which comes from the body (urine etc. The literal translation of this Romanian last name is 'black beard.'. Gypsies are highly suspicious of outsiders and vet everyone who they come into contact with. An itching of the right eye means sadness. Born into a Romany Gypsy family of diviners, Lisa has had an active interest in the occult from a young age. The Romani people have a strong sense of family, but also believe in the importance of respecting other families as well. Lol! Gypsies have a number of superstitions when it comes to hiccups. This folklore-related article is a stub. You can follow her work on Twitter @LolaWordSmyth. Do not change the bedding on a Friday, or you will have a bad dream that night. We propose to investigate how family events such as weddings, funerals, engagements, and child birth are celebrated. Gypsy families are often quite large, with many children and extended family members living together in one home. One tradition is that you should put a spoon in your mouth and lean over the sink, or try drinking a glass of water upside-down. The practice of "gypsy magic" emphasizes fortune-telling, the use of charms, healing and protection spells. Man, seems like anything you say or do could bring you bad luckha, ha! three times, it will not happen. In spite of myths of Roma immorality . However, arent all societies and cultures about acceptance? 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. Contrary to popular belief, we did not choose this life; we are born Gypsies. If your palm is itching, you will either receive money or you will get beaten. 21. Eating the burned parts of bread is good for your lungs and your eyes. Romany people are not ignorant to how illnesses are spread. I loved reading this. When a young couple fall in love, there's no such thing as an engagement. Even then, however, it was obvious that there were universal story motifs that spanned continents and cultures. Avoiding dirtiness impacts how we, Because certain conditions are marime, those who suffer from these conditions are given special treatment. In fact, our lives are quite the opposite. 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. 26. Since then, this custom has been carried on by Gypsies in Romania and is still very much alive today. Some gypsy superstitions are more believable than others, such as the belief that a broken mirror will bring seven years of bad luck. Regarding keeping windows open thats definitely a belief here. If a bee gets inside your house, you will soon have a guest. 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. The Romas (gypsies) traveling culture has historically hindered education. Gypsy and Traveler Groups in the United States. 5. 31. No content from this site may be used elsewhere without the permission of either #FolkloreThursday or the article 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. However, we do have generalised categories of marime things. At the same time, its very good to have the last drops from a bottle (usually of alcohol) in your glass. And there are plenty more Romanian superstitions. Multumesc for sharing that. Irish T. ravellers and people who work on fairgrounds are not Gypsies. We've all heard the legend of the Banshee, whose scream you hear before someone close to you dies. This can cause you headaches or just make you feel weak and unwell. Punishment can include a loss of reputation and, in extreme cases, expulsion from the Romani community. Submitted by gtadmin on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 14:42. 29. 4. If 13 people sit at a table, one of them will surely die before the end of the year. Some Gypsy Superstitions. This is just one of the many superstitions in Romania that cant really be explained logically, but which exists. 13. The Roma are not to be confused with Romanians or with the Romans, both of which are distinct ethnic groups from the Roma. The Romanians have many superstitions about when the looming arrival of death will occur, some of which include the unexpected breaking of furniture or mirrors. Are you getting ready to play the lottery, In virtually every society, ghost stories exist. Traditional Romani and Gypsy culture upholds family, customs, and self-governance. Roma are pejoratively referred to as Zigeuner in German and as "Gypsies" in English.. Women on their period, or the sick may be feared because they have the power to spread their marime to others. There are many superstitions that gypsies hold dear to their hearts. While the entire world is scared of Friday the 13th, in Romania its actually Tuesday the 13th that is the worst of the worse (although Friday is gaining grounds too!). There is no one way of life for all Gypsies. 2. If you break glass in Romania a plate, a drinking glass or anything it means that your bad luck breaks away. Gypsies believe that when someone gossips about you, they are actually casting spells on you. If you sing at the table, you will marry a drunk. Once an item is classed as marime, we avoid or limit contact with that thing. Another old myth in Ireland is that it's bad luck to count the number of cars behind a hearse on its way to the graveyard. 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 . 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