Egyptians

For centuries Roma were called Egyptians, because of their having been mistakenly identified when they first arrived in Europe. The prevalent term "Gypsy" is a contraction of that earlier name, as are Gitano in Spanish, Gyphtos in Greek, and Gjupci in Macedonian. This term perpetuates the misconception that the people originated in Egypt. Roma are also called Zigeuner in German, Tsigani in Russian, Zingari in Italian, and Tigani in Romanian. These names are variants of the Greek word Athinganoi, meaning "don't touch." It was also the name of a religious sect formerly inhabiting Phrygia and Thrace in Asia Minor who shunned contact with outsiders.

The Roma themselves perpetuated many myths about themselves for many reasons. It better suited their purposes to encourage fanciful, imaginative explanations of their origins. In the past, if they said their origins were biblical and therefore Christian, they could more easily gain the sympathy of the people and the officials of the towns and cities they visited. If, instead, these roots were tinged with mystery, this would enhance their qualifications for fortune telling and give them a mystical aura and presence.

Many of the myths of biblical origin were very popular. According to some, the Roma were descended from Noah. According to others, they were the true descendants of Abraham and Sarah. Their endless wandering, some people believed, was their punishment for being among those who refused help to Joseph and Mary on their flight into Egypt. Another popular story told that during the crossing of the Red Sea, when Pharaoh's troops were trapped in the waters, a young couple miraculously escaped, becoming the Adam and Eve of the Roma.

One of the most widespread legends concerning the nomadic Roma was based on the story of the Crucifixion. According to this legend, many people were asked to forge the nails of the Cross, but all refused when they heard the purpose for which the nails were to be used. Finally, some Roma blacksmiths agreed to make them, and because of this, the Roma were condemned to wander the earth forever.

Many speculations on their origins were not based on biblical sources. They themselves often said they had fled from Egypt and supported this by the use of fanciful titles, such as "Duke of Egypt." There is no such thing as Roma royalty. No Gypsy king or duke makes proclamations of law. Roma did use imaginative titles of nobility when they first came to Europe, but these were meant to impress their hosts. Since that time, many journalists have found it colorful to write of "Gypsy" kings or queens, and some Roma, seeking a romantic image, have encouraged this. However, the fact is that each community is ruled by a man who is chosen not because he is part of any royal family but for his age, experience, and wisdom. The leader of a Romani community is a man who inspires respect by his strength and intelligence, a man who by his own life sets an example for the other Roma, known in the Vlax Romani dialect as o Baro Rom.

The Roma, too, were thought to be of Babylonian, Nubian or Abyssinian descent, or even descendants of the Celtic Druids. No explanation of their origins seemed impossible. A particularly romantic, and inplausible, version stated that they were the survivors of the mysterious people who inhabited the legendary island of Atlantis.

Sometimes, the Romani choice of occupations was supposed to provide clues to their origins. For example, because of their skills at fortune telling, they were reputed to be the descendants of the Euxians, neighbors of the Persians, who in ancient times were known for their success in predicting the future.

The deeply ingrained notion that all Roma are nomadic overlooks the fact that the Vlach Roma in Wallachia and Moldavia, which are now parts of Romania and Moldova, were officially enslaved until 1856. The Vlach were bound to their owners' homes and farms for about five hundred years. It is estimated that from the fourteenth century until emancipation, as much as half of Europe's Roma were enslaved. Among the Vlach, the forced sedentary life of slavery seems to have preserved internal Roma law and strengthened the culture as a whole, although some of their cultural characteristics probably were acquired from the host population. In Europe today, it is estimated that about five percent of the Roma are nomadic or migratory.

The commonly held notion that Roma steal or buy children has no basis in fact. Gajikane parents often warn their children that they will be given, or sold, to the "Gypsies" if they do not behave themselves. There have been allegations and accusations through the centuries in Europe, some resulting in circumstantial guilt and punishment by gadjikano courts, all with no basis in fact or reality.

In spite of myths of Roma immorality, most Roma follow strict rules of sexual behavior. They are accused of being sexually promiscuous. The women are said to be ready to seduce non-Roma men, and the men always on the lookout for innocent non-Roma women. In fact, prostitution and infidelity are strictly prohibited by the Roma code of marimé. Roma expect females to be virgins when they marry and to remain faithful to their husbands until death. Infidelity in marriage historically has had serious consequences for the wife, including corporal punishment or a sentence of marimé (ostracism).

Most outsiders often consider Roma a dirty people, unconcerned about personal hygiene. Cleanliness is a very special matter for Roma, one that is little understood by the gadje. This misunderstanding is certainly encouraged by the Roma who often want to appear dirty, knowing that this is one sure way of avoiding close contact with gadje, whom they regard "impure."

European folklore contains a number of references to the Romani complexion. A Greek proverb says, "go to the Gypsy children and choose the whitest," and in Yiddish, "the same sun that whitens the linen darkens the Gypsy," and "no washing ever whitens the black Gypsy." One word in Romani which Roma in some countries use as a name for themselves is Calé, meaning "black." The Spanish Roma call themselves Calé, and the Roma in Finland call themselves Kalo. Caucasian non-Roma are called parni or parnofi meaning "white" in some Romani dialects, even by fair-skinned Roma.

Another misconception is that the Roma will eat anything they can find. While undoubtedly true that their wandering existence and poverty have forced them to eat foods that might be distasteful to other peoples, there are very strict taboos against certain foods. The chief among them is horse meat, which is eaten by non-Roma in many parts of the world. According to the customs of certain tribes, any Rom eating horse meat may be severely punished or even banished from the tribe. The relationship of the horse to the Roma has historically been such a close one that it is unthinkable to eat this animal. Cats and dogs are also forbidden as foods. These animals are considered unclean because they groom and clean themselves by licking.

The literature has sometimes described the "Gypsy" mode of life as "primitive," or has stressed the asserted illiteracy of the Roma. These characterizations, however, have little meaningful value. The often incomprehensible conduct of the non-Roma world, as seen by the Roma, could with equal justification be characterized as "primitive." In this sense, gajikane values may appear to be rudimentary and irregular to anybody who does not share them. Similarly, one could maintain that the non-Roma are illiterate because they are ignorant of the Romanes language and of fundamental skills needed for effective communication, as seen from a Romani perspective.

There is another equally one-sided picture of the Roma, and this is a romantic one. According to this point of view, they are a beautiful, colorfully dressed people, proud and independent, life-loving and passionate. They are carefree and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. These people have created a music and dance that throbs with passion and joy. The women in their colorful long skirts are irresistibly seductive and exciting. The dark-faced, high cheek-boned men, so proud of bearing, are symbols of wild, uninhibited virility. These notions have, for centuries, been encouraged by romantic writers and painters all over the world. These myths are perpetuated by groups today, such as "medieval" societies and other "Renaissance" organizations. They are as untrue as other notions that show the Roma to be a totally immoral and disreputable people.

Equally offensive to Roma are Multi-User Dimension or Dungeon (MUD) and role-playing games (RPG) that portray Roma as clans with supernatural and fantastical powers, ancestries and morally offensive codes of conduct. If these same role-playing games featured any other minority in the same fashion as they do Roma, the protestations would be deafening. To these "game" players, the Patrin asks that you consider refraining from using Roma, or "Gypsies," as characters. These MUD and RPG games reinforce the notion that Roma are not real people. These games reduce our people to fantasy cardboard figure cut-outs and disassociate real-world problems and social issues from real people, the Roma.

Crowe, David M. A History of the Gypsies of Eastern Europe and Russia. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 1996.

Fraser, Angus. The Gypsies. Cambridge: Blackwell, 1992.

Greenfield, Howard. Gypsies. New York: Crown Publishers, 1977.

Hancock, Ian. The Pariah Syndrome: An Account of Gypsy Slavery and Persecution. Ann Arbor: Karoma, 1987.

Sutherland, Anne. Gypsies: The Hidden Americans. Reprinted Prospect Heights: Waveland, 1986.

Tong, Diane. Gypsy Folktales. New York: MJF, 1989.