Roma people in Transylvania, 19th century

The Roma people (pronounced "rahma," singular Rom, sometimes Rroma, and Rrom) along with the closely related Sinti people are commonly known as Gypsies in English. They are a traditionally nomadic people who originated in northern India but currently live worldwide, chiefly in Europe. Most Roma speak some form of Romany, a language closely related to the modern Indo-European languages of northern India and Pakistan. Modern anthropology has related Romany language to Punjabi and Pothohari spoken in northern India & Pakistan. Transylvania ( Romanian: Transilvania or Ardeal, Hungarian: Erdély, German: Siebenbürgen, Serbian: Transilvanija, Turkish: Erdel, Slovak: Sedmohradsko or Transylvania, Polish: Siedmiogród) is a historic region that forms the western and the central parts of Romania. ... Sinti is the name nomadic people of north-western Europe prefer to call themselves by, who were referred to by the local population as Zigeuner in German or gypsies in English. ... Communities of nomadic people move from place to place, rather than settling down in one location. ... The Republic of India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of more than one billion, and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... Romany (or Romani) is the language of the Roma and Sinti, travelling peoples often referred to in English as gypsies and in the East and Central Europe known as tsigane. ... Proto-Indo-European Indo-European studies Indo-European is originally a linguistic term, referring to the Indo-European language family. ... The Republic of India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of more than one billion, and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. ... The Islamic Republic of Pakistan (, or Islami Jamhooriya-e-Pakistan, in Urdu), or Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia and is part of the Greater Middle East. ... Punjabi (sometimes spelled Panjabi) is the language of the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. ... Pothohari can mean either an inhabitant of Pothohar, an area in the north of now Pakistani Punjab province, or the language spoken in the region. ...

Roma were widely believed to have psychic powers (see the popular stereotype of the Gypsy fortune-teller), and some romantics attribute the invention of the Tarot cards to them. This may reflect the belief that the Roma, being of alleged Egyptian origin, had knowledge of lost arts and sciences of the ancient Egyptians. Parapsychology is the study of the evidence involving phenomena where a person seems to affect or gain information about something through a means not currently explainable within the framework of mainstream, conventional science. ... For prophecy in the context of revealed religions see Prophet. ... Tarot (Tar-oh) is a system of symbolical images. ... Map of Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was the civilization of the Nile Valley between about 3000 BC and the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. As a civilization based on irrigation it is the quintessential example of an hydraulic empire. ...

Name and language

The Rroma are popularly known in English as Gypsies or Gipsies, a word which is derived from Egypt, from a former belief among outsiders that they were natives of Egypt. The term was never used by the Roma to describe themselves. The term Gypsy has long been associated with persecution and has acquired pejorative connotations. The Arab Republic of Egypt, commonly known as Egypt, (in Arabic: مصر, romanized Miṣr or Maṣr, in Egyptian dialect) is a republic mostly located in north-eastern Africa. ...

In much of Europe the Roma are known as Tsigane (French: Tsigane; Albanian: Cigan, Maxhup, Gabel; Bulgarian: Цигани (Tsigani); Czech: Cikáni; Dutch and German: Zigeuner; Danish: Sigøjner; Lithuanian: Čigonai; Russian: Цыгане (Tsyganye); Hungarian: Cigány; Greek: Τσιγγάνοι (Tsingávoi); Italian: Zingari; Romanian: ţigani; Croatian and Serbian: Cigani; Polish: Cyganie; Portuguese: Cigano; Spanish: Gitano and in Turkish as Çingene). In Iran they are referred to as کولی (Kowli), in India as Lambani, Lambadi, or Rabari. French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. ... Albanian or Gjuha shqipe is a language spoken by more than six million inhabitants of the western Balkan peninsula (Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia, Greece) in south_eastern Europe (Albanians) and by a small number of people in Calabria, southern Italy. ... Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Southern branch of the Slavic languages, along with Macedonian, Serbo-Croatian, and Slovenian. ... The Czech language is one of the West Slavic languages, along with Slovak, Polish, Pomeranian, and Sorbian. ... Note: This page contains IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode. ... German (called Deutsch in German; in German the term germanisch is equivalent to English Germanic), is a member of the western group of Germanic languages and is one of the worlds major languages. ... Danish is one of the Scandinavian languages, a sub-group of the Germanic group of the Indo-European language family. ... Lithuanian is the official language of Lithuania, spoken by about 4 million native Lithuanians. ... Russian (русский язык  listen?) is the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages. ... The Hungarian language is a Finno-Ugric language spoken in Hungary and in adjacent areas of Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Austria, Slovenia (all territories lost after World War I). ... The Greek language (Greek Ελληνικά, IPA – Hellenic) is an Indo-European language with a documented history of some 3,000 years. ... Italian is a Romance language spoken by about 70 million people, most of whom live in Italy. ... Romanian (limba română ) is an Eastern Romance language, spoken by about 28 million people, most of them in Romania, Moldova (where it is the official language) and nearby countries. ... The Croatian language is a language of the western group of South Slavic languages which is used primarily by the Croats. ... The Serbian language or Serb language is one of the standard versions of the Central-South Slavic diasystem, formerly (and still frequently) called Serbo-Croatian. ... Polish (polski, język polski) is the official language of Poland. ... Portuguese (português) is a Romance language predominantly spoken in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, and East Timor. ... This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... This is the disambiguation page for the terms Turk, Turkey, Turkic, and Turkish. ... Iran (Persian: ایران) is a Middle Eastern country located in southwestern Asia. ... The Republic of India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of more than one billion, and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. ...

There is no relationship between the names Roma/Rroma (people) and Romany/Rromany/Romanes language, and the country of Romania, Romanians and Romanian language, or the city of Rome (Roma in Italian, Romanian and Latin). Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania; Romanian: România) is a country in southeastern Europe. ... The Romanians (români in present-day Romanian and rumâni in historical contexts) are an ethnic group; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania and of Moldova (where they are also called Moldovans, a disputed term); each of these countries also has other significant ethnic minorities, and the Romanians constitute an... Romanian (limba română ) is an Eastern Romance language, spoken by about 28 million people, most of them in Romania, Moldova (where it is the official language) and nearby countries. ... The Roman Colosseum Rome (Italian and Latin Roma) is the capital city of Italy, and of its Lazio region. ... Roma is: The Latin, Italian, Romanian and Spanish name for the Italian city of Rome. ...

Most Roma refer to themselves by one generic name, Rom (meaning "man" or "husband"). They have their own Romany language. Analysis of Romany has shown that it is related to languages spoken in northern India and Pakistan, such as Hindi and Punjabi. This is regarded as strong evidence for locating the geographical origin of the Roma, particularly in light of the fact that loanwords in Romany make it possible to trace the pattern of their migration west. Body habitus and ABO blood group distribution is also consistent with northern Indian warrior classes. Romany (or Romani) is the language of the Roma and Sinti, travelling peoples often referred to in English as gypsies and in the East and Central Europe known as tsigane. ... The Republic of India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of more than one billion, and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. ... The Islamic Republic of Pakistan (, or Islami Jamhooriya-e-Pakistan, in Urdu), or Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia and is part of the Greater Middle East. ... Hindi (हिन्दी) is a language spoken in most states in northern and central India. ... Punjabi (sometimes spelled Panjabi) is the language of the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. ... A loanword (or a borrowing) is a word taken in by one language from another. ... In post-structuralist thought, habitus, a concept defined by Pierre Bourdieu, is the total ideational (or, better yet, existential) environment of a person. ... A blood type is a description an individuals characteristics of red blood cells due to substances (carbohydrates and proteins) on the cell membrane. ...

(Although a recent study published in nature suggests romany is related to Sinhalese,see footnotes)

Some Roma have developed creole languages and/or mixed languages, including: A creole is a language descended from a pidgin that has become the native language of a group of people. ...

• Caló or Iberian-Romany, which uses the Romany lexicon and Spanish grammar (the calé). It is the source of many words of Spanish cant and slang.
• Lomavren or Armenian-Romany
• Angloromani or English-Romany
• Romano-Greek or Greek-Romany
• Traveller Norwegian or Norwegian-Romany
• Romano-Serbian or Serbian-Romany
• Tavringer Romani or Swedish-Romany

In recent years there has been a movement towards use of the "double-R" spellings of "Rroma" for the people and "Rromanes" for the language, as in the Romani language, "r" and "rr" represent two different phonemes. This article is about the international language known as Spanish. ... Cant is a term generally used to describe secret languages (cryptolects) used by gypsies, thieves, and others who have a need to communicate freely without necessarily conveying their meaning to a wider audience. ... Slang is the non-standard use of words in a language of a particular social group, and sometimes the creation of new words or importation of words from another language. ... Armenian is an Indo-European language spoken in the Caucasus mountains (particularly in the Armenian Republic) and also used by the Armenian Diaspora. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Greek language (Greek Ελληνικά, IPA – Hellenic) is an Indo-European language with a documented history of some 3,000 years. ... Norwegian is a Germanic language spoken in Norway. ... The Romano-Serbian language is a language in the Western group of South Slavic languages. ... The Serbian language or Serb language is one of the standard versions of the Central-South Slavic diasystem, formerly (and still frequently) called Serbo-Croatian. ... Swedish (svenska  listen?) is a Scandinavian language language spoken predominantly in Sweden, Finland and Åland by over 8 million native speakers. ...

A Roma family traveling (a print from 1837)

Roma family in Smyrna, Turkey

An 1852 Romanian poster advertising an auction of Roma slaves

This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania; Romanian: România) is a country in southeastern Europe. ...

History

The Roma are believed to have left India about AD 1000 and to have passed through what is now Afghanistan, Persia, Armenia, and Turkey. People recognizable by other Roma as Roma still live as far east as Iran, including some who made the migration to Europe and returned. By the 14th century, the Roma had reached the Balkans and by the 16th century, Scotland and Sweden. Some Roma migrated south through Syria to North Africa, reaching Europe through the Strait of Gibraltar. Both currents met in today's France. Many peoples similar to the Roma still exist in India, seeming to have originated from the desert state of Rajasthan. The Republic of India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of more than one billion, and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. ... For other uses, see number 1000. ... Afghanistan (Pashtu/Dari-Persian: Afğānistān افغانستان) is a country in Central Asia. ... Iran (Persian: ایران) is a Middle Eastern country located in southwestern Asia. ... Armenia - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Iran (Persian: ایران) is a Middle Eastern country located in southwestern Asia. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... (13th century - 14th century - 15th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400. ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Alba) is a country or nation and former independent kingdom of northwest Europe, and one of the four constituent parts of the United Kingdom. ... The Syrian Arab Republic is a country in the Middle East, bordering (from south to north) on Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Turkey. ... Categories: Africa geography stubs | North Africa ... Rajasthan (राजस्‍थान) is the geographically largest state in northwestern India. ...

The reason for the diaspora of the Roma is one of the great mysteries of history. It has been proposed by some scholars that the Roma were originally low caste Hindus recruited into an army of mercenaries whereupon they were granted warrior caste status and sent westwards to resist Islamic military expansion. Another theory is that they were captives taken as slaves by Muslim conquerors of northern India and that they became a distinct community in their lands of captivity. It is reported that Mahmud of Ghazni took half a million prisoners during a Turk-Persian invasion of Sindh and Panjab in India. Why the Roma did not return to India, choosing instead to travel ever-further west into the lands of Europe, is an enigma but may relate to military service under the Muslims. The term diaspora ( Greek διασπορά, a scattering or sowing of seeds) is used (without capitalization) to refer to any people or ethnic population forced or induced to leave their traditional ethnic homelands, being dispersed throughout other parts of the world, and the ensuing developments in their dispersal and culture. ... The word Caste is derived from the Portuguese word casta, meaning lineage, breed or race. ... This article is about the Hindu religion; for other meanings of the word, see Hindu (disambiguation). ... Mercenary (disambiguation). ... A Kshatriya is a member of the military or reigning order, according to the law-code of Manu the second ranking caste of the Indian varna system of four castes, the first being the Brahmin or priestly caste, the third the Vaishya or mercantile caste and the lowest the Shudra. ... Islam ( Arabic al-islām الإسلام,  listen?) the submission to God is a monotheistic faith and the worlds second-largest religion. ... The word slave has at least two meanings: People who are owned by others, and live to serve them without pay. ... A Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. ... Mahmud of Ghazni (971-April 30, 1030), also know as Yamin ul-Dawlah Mahmud (in full: Yamin ul-Dawlah Abd ul-Qasim Mahmud Ibn Sebük Tigin) was the ruler of Ghazni from 997 until his death. ... Sindh (Sind) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. ... Punjab, 1903 Punjab Province, 1909 The Punjab (sometimes spelt Panjab) is a region straddling the border between India and Pakistan. ... The Republic of India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population of more than one billion, and is the seventh largest country by geographical area. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ...

Roma immigration to the United States began in colonial times with small groups in Virginia and French Louisiana. Larger scale immigration began in the 1860s with groups of Romnichal from Britain. The largest number of immigrants came over in the early 1900s, mainly from the Vlax group of Kalderash. The two groups do not often associate with each other. A large number also moved to Latin America. State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th)  - Land 102,642 km²  - Water 8,220 km² (7. ... Louisiana is a southern state of the United States of America. ... Events and trends Italian unification under King Victor Emmanuel II. Wars for expansion and national unity continue until the incorporation of the Papal States (March 17, 1861 - September 20, 1870). ... Events and Trends Technology Lawrence Hargrave makes the first stable wing design for a heavier-than-air aircraft Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first documented flight in a powered heavier-than-air aircraft Mass production of automobile Wide popularity of home phonograph Panama Canal is built by the United... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ...

People

The world population of Roma is difficult to establish with any certainty. Estimates suggest that there are between approximately 5 and 10 million Roma worldwide. As many as 6 to 8 million Roma live in Europe. The largest concentrations of Roma are found in the Balkan peninsula of southeastern Europe, in central Europe, the United States, and in Russia and the other successor republics of the USSR. Smaller numbers are scattered throughout western Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ... Soviet redirects here. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... Categories: Africa geography stubs | North Africa ...

Countries where Roma populations exceed half a million are Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, and the United States. Slovakia, with its estimated 320,000 Roma out of a total population of 5.4 million, has the highest proportion of Roma in the world. Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania; Romanian: România) is a country in southeastern Europe. ... The Republic of Bulgaria is a republic in the southeast of Europe. ... The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság) or Hungary (Magyarország) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. ... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in all south Slavic languages) is a term used for three separate but successive political entities that existed during most of the 20th century on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe. ... National motto: None Official language Slovak Capital Bratislava President Ivan Gašparovič Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 126th 49,035 km² Negligible Population  - Total ( 2004)  - Density Ranked 103rd 5,379,455 109/km² Independence January 1, 1993 (division of Czechoslovakia) Currency Slovak koruna Time zone  - in summer CET...

The Roma recognize divisions among themselves with some sense of territoriality emphasized by certain cultural and dialectal differences. Some authorities delineate four main confederations: A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος) is a variety of a language used by people from a particular geographic area. ...

1. the Kalderash (smiths who came from the Balkans and then went to central Europe and North America and are the most numerous),
2. the Gitanos (also called Calé, mostly in the Iberian Peninsula, North Africa, and southern France; strong in the arts of entertainment),
3. the Manush (also known as Sinti, mostly in Alsace and other regions of France and Germany; often travelling showmen and circus people), and
4. the Romnichal (Rom'nies)(mainly in Britain and North America).

Each of these main divisions was further divided into two or more subgroups distinguished by occupational specialization or territorial origin or both. Some of these group names include Machvaya (Machwaya), Lovari, Churari, Sinti, Rudari, Boyash, Ludar, Luri, Xoraxai, Ungaritza, Bashaldé, and Romungro. The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ... World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is the third largest continent in area and in population after Eurasia and Africa. ... The Gitanos are Roma people living in Spain. ... topographic map of the Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe. ... Categories: Africa geography stubs | North Africa ... The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... Sinti is the name nomadic people of north-western Europe prefer to call themselves by, who were referred to by the local population as Zigeuner in German or gypsies in English. ... Capital Strasbourg Area 8,280 km² Regional President Adrien Zeller Population  - 2004 estimate  - 1999 census  - Density 1,793,000 1,734,145 209/km² Arrondissements 13 Cantons 75 Communes 903 Départements Bas-Rhin Haut-Rhin Alsace ( French: Alsace; Alsatian/ German: Elsaß) is a région of France. ... The Big Top of Billy Smarts Circus Cambridge 2004. ... The Machvaya (also Machavaya) are a group of Romany originating specifically from Serbia. ... Sinti is the name nomadic people of north-western Europe prefer to call themselves by, who were referred to by the local population as Zigeuner in German or gypsies in English. ... Luri is a dialect of Persian language. ...

Genetics

Studies of Bulgarian, Baltic and Vlax Roma genetics suggest that about 50% of observed Y chromosomes and mitochondrial DNA belong to haplogroup H and female haplogroup M, respectively; both of which are widespread across South and Central Asia. The male haplogroup R1a1 is rare amongst the Roma but accounts for 50% of male Y chromosome in NW India and Pakistan. The remaining genes of the Roma studied originate from Middle East or Europe. (Am. J. Hum. Genet. 69:1314–1331, 2001; "Origins and Divergence of the Roma (Gypsies)" and European Journal of Human Genetics (2001) 9, 97 - 104; "Patterns of inter- and intra-group genetic diversity in the Vlax Roma as revealed by Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA lineages".) The human Y chromosome is one of two sex chromosomes, it contains the genes that cause testis development, thus determining maleness. ... Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is DNA which is not located in the nucleus of the cell but in the mitochondria. ...

Gipsy Encampment.--Fac-simile of a Copper-plate by Callot.

Research of Luba Kalaydjieva [1] (http://www.waimr.uwa.edu.au/etc/subpage.cfm/SID/3/PID/24/SPID/139#Genetics) shown that original group comes from India, appeared some 32 - 40 generations ago and was small (less than 1000 people) [2] (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15322984).

Rejection

Because of their nomadic lifestyle, there has always been a great deal of mutual distrust between the Roma and their more settled neighbours. They were, and frequently still are, popularly believed to be beggars, thieves and kidnappers, unfit for sedentary labour, resulting in a great deal of persecution. This belief is often cited as the etymological source of the term gyp, meaning "cheat", as in "I got gypped by a con man." However, this etymology is difficult to verify; the Oxford English Dictionary lists this as simply a possible derivation. The German name Zigeuner is often derived through popular etymology from Ziehende Gauner, which means 'travelling thieves'. The Roma have sometimes accepted among themselves outsiders from mainstream society. Beggars in Samarkand, 1905 Begging includes the various methods used by persons to obtain money, food, shelter, or other necessities from people they encounter during the course of their travels. ... A thief is someone or something that performs theft, a crime against property. ... In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away of a person against the persons will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment (confinement without legal authority) for ransom or in furtherance of another crime. ... A confidence trick, confidence game, or con for short (also known as a scam) is an attempt to intentionally mislead a person or persons (known as the mark) usually with the goal of financial or other gain. ... The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a comprehensive multi-volume dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP). ... A fake etymology is an invented explanation (etymology) for the origin of a word. ...

During the Enlightenment, Spain briefly sought to eliminate the Roma's outsider status by attempting to forbid the use of the word gitano and to assimilate the Roma into the mainstream population by forcing them to abandon their language and way of life. That effort proved unsuccessful. The Age of Enlightenment (or The Enlightenment for short) was an intellectual movement in 18th-century Europe. ...

Distrust of Roma reached a peak in World War II when the Nazis murdered large numbers of Roma. They were one of the major groups (along with Jews, communists, homosexuals and prostitutes) to be persecuted by the regime. Like Jews (and unlike the other groups), Roma were slated for extermination and were to be automatically sentenced to forced labour and/or imprisonment in a concentration camp or were to be killed on sight. It is believed that 400,000 Roma were killed. See Porajmos The Nazi party used a right-facing swastika as their symbol and the red and black colors were said to represent Blut und Boden (blood and soil). ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... Communism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Homosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love, or sexual desire exclusively for another of the same sex. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ... A concentration camp is a large detention center created for political opponents, aliens, specific ethnic or religious groups, civilians of a critical war-zone, or other groups of people, often during a war. ... Gypsy arrivals in the Belzec death camp await instructions The Porajmos (also Porrajmos) literally Devouring, is a term coined by the Roma (Gypsy) people to describe attempts by the Nazi regime to exterminate most of the Roma peoples of Europe. ...

Where possible, many Roma continue their nomadic lifestyle travelling in caravans (small trailer homes), but in many situations in Eastern Europe, they live in depressed squatter communities with very high unemployment. In some cases — notably the Kalderash clan in Romania who work as traditional coppersmiths — they have prospered. A travel trailer, or caravan, is a small trailer in which people can live and travel simultaneously. ... A modern double-wide mobile home Mobile homes are housing units built in factories, rather than on site, and then taken to the place where they will be occupied, usually by being carried by tractor-trailers over public highways. ... To squat is to occupy an unoccupied or abandoned space or building that the individual does not own, rent, or otherwise have permission to use. ... Unemployment rates in the United States. ... Romania (formerly spelled Rumania or Roumania; Romanian: România) is a country in southeastern Europe. ...

To this day, there are still clashes between the Roma and the sedentary population around them. Common complaints are that Roma steal and live off social welfare and residents often reject Roma encampments. In the UK, "travellers", the politically-correct term, became a 2005 general election issue with the leader of the Conservative Party promising to review the Human Rights Act 1998. This law, which absorbs the European Convention on Human Rights into UK primary legislation, is seen by many to permit the granting of retrospective planning permission. Severe population pressures and the paucity of greenfield sites have led to travellers purchasing land and setting up residential settlements almost overnight thus subverting the planning restrictions imposed on other local members of the community. Theft (also known as stealing) is, in general, the wrongful taking of someone elses property without that persons willful consent. ... Social welfare can be taken to mean the welfare or well-being of a society. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and a member of the European Union. ... Irish Travellers are a nomadic or itinerant people of Irish origin living in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States. ... Political correctness is the alteration of language to redress real or alleged injustices and discrimination or to avoid offense. ... A general election is an election in which all members of a given political body are up for election. ... Conservative Party can refer to: Canada Conservative Party of Canada (since 2003) Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1942-2003) Conservative Party of Canada (historical) (until 1942) Their respective affiliated provincial parties Chile - Conservative Party Colombia - Colombian Conservative Party Denmark - Conservative Peoples Party Honduras - National Party of Honduras Lithuania - Homeland... The Human Rights Act 1998 is a United Kingdom Act of Parliament which received Royal Assent on November 9, 1998, and came into force on October 1, 2000. ... The European Convention on Human Rights (1950) was adopted under the auspices of the Council of Europe† to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. ... Land use is the pattern of construction and activity land is used for. ...

Former communist countries

Many countries formerly part of the Eastern bloc and former Yugoslavia have substantial populations of Roma. The level of integration of Roma in society remains limited. They usually remain on the margins of society, living in isolated ghetto-like settlements. Only a small fraction of Roma children graduate from secondary schools. Usually they feel rejected by the state and main population, which creates another obstacle to their integration. During the Cold War, the Eastern Bloc (or Soviet Bloc) comprised the following Central and Eastern European countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, East Germany, Poland, Albania (until the early 1960s, see below), the Soviet Union, and Czechoslovakia. ... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in all south Slavic languages) is a term used for three separate but successive political entities that existed during most of the 20th century on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe. ... Integration may be any of the following: Usually integration is the construction of an object, a theory, etc. ... The name ghetto refers to an area where people from a given ethnic background or united in a given culture or religion live as a group, voluntarily or involuntarily, in milder or stricter seclusion. ...

During Communism, Roma were subject to assimilation pressure (e.g. official use of Roma language was forbidden); however their social situation was relatively good. Usually, labour duty existed in planned economies, and work for Roma was organized by authorities. They were usually employed as an unqualified manual force — but because of communist ideology, such work was relatively well paid. The situation changed after the fall of communism. Roma have had problems finding jobs in standard labour market conditions. The main reasons are (generally): relatively lower education, low qualifications, and prejudice. Communism is a term that can refer to one of several things: a social and economic system, an ideology which supports that system, or a political movement that wishes to implement that system. ... A planned economy is an economic system in which economic decisions are made by centralized planners who determine what sorts of goods and services to produce and how they are to be priced and allocated, and may include state ownership of the means of production. ... The rise of Gorbachev Although reform stalled between 1964–1982, the generational shift gave new momentum for reform. ... For with(out) prejudice in law, see Prejudice (law). ...

According to The Guardian (January 8, 2003): The Guardian was also the name of a U.S. television series. ...

"In the Czech Republic, 75% of Roma children are educated in schools for people with learning difficulties, and 70% are unemployed (compared with a national rate of 9%). In Hungary, 44% of Roma children are in special schools, while 74% of men and 83% of women are unemployed. In Slovakia, Roma children are 28 times as likely to be sent to a special school than non-Roma; Roma unemployment stands at 80%."[3]  (http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,870411,00.html)

In some countries, dependence on social security systems are part of the problem. For some Roma families, it may be preferable to live on social security, compared to low-paid jobs. That creates many new problems: anger against Roma, conditions that produce crime, and extreme sensitivity to changes in social security. A good example of the last one is Slovakia, where reduction of social security (family is paid allowance only for first three children) led to civil disorder in some Roma villages. National motto: None Official language Slovak Capital Bratislava President Ivan Gašparovič Prime Minister Mikuláš Dzurinda Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 126th 49,035 km² Negligible Population  - Total ( 2004)  - Density Ranked 103rd 5,379,455 109/km² Independence January 1, 1993 (division of Czechoslovakia) Currency Slovak koruna Time zone  - in summer CET...

In most countries within or approaching the European Union, Roma people can find chances to lead normal lives. Some Roma families integrate better into the larger societies, avoid having unusually many children and don't depend on social security. Nevertheless, the Roma most visible to the rest of the community are those few that for various reasons still live in shacks (usually built ad hoc, near railroads) and beg on the streets, perpetuating the bad image of Roma overall. The local authorities tend to try to help such people by improving infrastructure in their settlements and subsidizing families further, but such aid is mostly superficial and insufficient. The European Union or EU is an intergovernmental organisation of European countries, which currently has 25 member states. ...

In June 2004, Livia Jaroka became the second, and only current, Roma Member of the European Parliament when she was elected as part of the list of the right-wing Fidesz Party in Hungary, following that country's accession to the European Union. The first Roma MEP was Juan de Dios Ramirez-Heredia, of Spain. Lívia Járóka is the first Roma Member of the European Parliament, having been elected as part of the Fidesz list in Hungary in June 2004. ... A Member of the European Parliament (English abbreviation MEP) is a member of the European Unions directly-elected legislative body, the European Parliament. ... The Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union (in Hungarian: Fidesz – Magyar Polgári Szövetség) is a large conservative centre-right political party in Hungary; as of 2004 the most important one in the opposition. ... The Republic of Hungary (Magyar Köztársaság) or Hungary (Magyarország) is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. ... The European Union or EU is an intergovernmental organisation of European countries, which currently has 25 member states. ...

Most Roma abandoned their nomadic way of life long ago, and a good representation of way of life of Balkan Roma today can be seen in the films of the famous Bosnian director Emir Kusturica. Emir Kusturica Емир Кустурица Emir Kusturica (Kusturitsa) (born November 24, 1954 -) is a filmmaker born in Sarajevo, former Yugoslavia. ...

Seven former communist Central European and Southeastern European states launched the Decade of Roma Inclusion initiative in 2005 to improve the socio-economic conditions and status of the Roma minority.

Roma society

A Gipsy Family.--Fac-simile of a Woodcut in the "Cosmographie Universelle" of Munster: in folio, Basle, 1552.

The traditional Roma place a high value on the extended family. Virginity is essential in unmarried women. Both men and women often marry young: the average bride can range from as young as 15 to 25. This article is about the domestic group. ... A virgin is most commonly seen as a person who has not engaged in sexual intercourse. ...

There is some controversy, however, surrounding Roma arranged marriage practices, with parallels being drawn to slavery. In 2003, one of the many Roma tribal kings, Tortica, banned his subjects from entering their children into marriage until they have come of age. This is seen by some as being in direct conflict with traditional Roma family practices. A rival Roma patriarch, Florin Cioaba, ran afoul of Romanian authorities in late 2003 when he married off his youngest daughter, Ana-Maria, reported by some to be as young as 12 years old. Slavery is any of a number of related conditions involving control of a person against his or her will, enforced by violence or other clear forms of coercion. ...

Roma music

In addition to their own Roma music, the Roma have had and still maintain a prominent role in the evolution of Flamenco music and dance. Roma music is highly varied among the diverse communities of the Roma (aka Gypsies). ... Flamenco performance by the La Primavera group Flamenco is a song, music and dance style which is strongly influenced by the Gitanos, but which has its deeper roots in Moorish musical traditions. ...

Fictional representations of Roma

Notable representations of Roma in fiction include The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo, La Gitanilla by Miguel de Cervantes, Thinner by Stephen King, Carmen by Georges Bizet, and Montoyas y Tarantos by Saura. The Lyre of Orpheus by Robertson Davies strongly features characters who in modern Canada maintain Gypsy traditions including the care and repair of musical instruments. Fires in the Dark by Louise Doughty is a fictionalised account of Roma experience in Central Europe during the Second World War The Hunchback of Notre Dame (in French, Notre-Dame de Paris) was a novel first published in 1831 by the French literary giant Victor Hugo. ... Victor Hugo Victor Hugo (February 26, 1802 - May 22, 1885) was a French author, the most important of the Romantic authors in the French language. ... Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (September 29, 1547 - April 23, 1616), was a Spanish author, best known for his novel Don Quixote de la Mancha. ... Thinner is 1984 novel by Stephen King about an obese lawyer who experiences a dramatic and ultimately dangerous weight loss as a result of a Gypsys curse. ... Carmen is a French opera by Georges Bizet, with text by Meilhac and Halévy, based on the novel by Prosper Mérimée. ... Georges Bizet (October 25, 1838 – June 3, 1875), was a French composer of the romantic era best known for his opera Carmen. ... The Lyre of Orpheus, published in 1988, is the last of the three connected novels of the Cornish Trilogy by Canadian novelist Robertson Davies. ... Robertson Davies in 1984 Robertson Davies (born August 28, 1913 at Thamesville, Ontario, and died December 2, 1995 at Toronto, Ontario) was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor. ... Canada is a sovereign state in northern North America, the northern-most country in the world, and the second largest in total area. ... Louise Doughty is an English novelist, playwright and journalist, born 1965. ...

Groups with similar lifestyles

In Germany and Switzerland, France and Austria there also exist so-called white gypsies which are known under the names of Jenische (German spelling), Yéniche (French spelling), and Yenish (English spelling). Their language seems to be grammatically identical with other (Swiss) German dialects; the origin of the lexicon however incorporates German, Romany, Yiddish and other words. See: Jenische (in German) (http://www.thata.ch/jenische.htm) German (called Deutsch in German; in German the term germanisch is equivalent to English Germanic), is a member of the western group of Germanic languages and is one of the worlds major languages. ... Romany (or Romani) is the language of the Roma and Sinti, travelling peoples often referred to in English as gypsies and in the East and Central Europe known as tsigane. ... Yiddish (ייִדיש, Jiddisch) is a Germanic language spoken by about four million Jews throughout the world. ...

There is also a group of people in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States called Irish Gypsies or Irish Travellers. They are not genetically related to the Roma, but their nomadic culture has been influenced by them. Their language is mainly based on an Irish Gaelic lexicon and an English-based grammar, with influence from Romany. A true colour image of Ireland, captured by a NASA satellite on January 4, 2003. ... Irish Travellers are a nomadic or itinerant people of Irish origin living in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States. ... Irish Travellers are a nomadic or itinerant people of Irish origin living in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

The quinqui or mercheros of Spain are a minority group, formerly nomadic, that share a lot of the way of life of Spanish Roma. Their origin is unclear, maybe peasants who lost their land in the 16th century. In spite of sharing persecution and mores with the Roma, the quinqui have often set themselves apart from them. Quinqui is an argot with roots in Caló and German. ...

Footnotes

Note 1: Russell D. Gray and Quentin D. Atkinson, Nature, vol 426, 27 Nov 2003, "Language-tree divergence times support the Anatolian theory of Indo-European origin," pp. 435-439 [4] (http://www.psych.auckland.ac.nz/psych/research/Evolution/Gray&Atkinson2003.pdf) See language distribution tree diagram. Nature is one of the oldest and most reputable general-purpose scientific journals, first published on November 4, 1869. ...

References

• Viorel Achim. The Roma in Romanian History. 2004. Budapest: Central European University Press. ISBN9639241849.
• Gypsies, Wanderers of the World, Bart McDowell, Photographs by Bruce Dale, National Geographic Society, 1970, hardback illustrated by photographs, 215 pages. ISBN 0870440888
• National Geographic, April, 2001, "Gypsies, The World's Outsiders", pp. 72-101.

Related topics

• dazdie
• List of Roma people
• Irish Travellers
• Romany language
• Timeline of Roma history
• Saint Sarah
• Decade of Roma Inclusion

This is a list of famous Roma people Music Carmen Amaya, Spanish dancer Georges Cziffra, pianist The Gipsy Kings Andy McCoy, Finnish musician (Gypsy father) Ramón Montoya, Spanish guitarist Django Reinhardt, Belgian jazz musician Taraful Haiducilor Ion Voicu, Romanian violinist Categories: Roma people | Lists of people ... Irish Travellers are a nomadic or itinerant people of Irish origin living in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States. ... Romany (or Romani) is the language of the Roma and Sinti, travelling peoples often referred to in English as gypsies and in the East and Central Europe known as tsigane. ... Gypsies, or Roma as they prefer to be called, have long been a part of the collective mythology of the West, where they were (and very often still are) depicted as outsiders, aliens, and a threat. ... Saint Sarah (also Saint Sara) is a Patron Saint venerated by the Roma (Gypsy) people. ...

External link

• Patrin: Romani Culture and History (http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/patrin.htm)
• The Luli of Uzbekistan (http://www.thinking-east.net/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=53&Itemid=56)
• BBC News: Roma Rivalry over Child Bride Ban (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3168638.stm)
• BBC News: Gypsies are 'Europe's most hated' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4486245.stm)