| Myths About the Roma |
| We all grew up with myths about the Gypsies. There are many misconceptions that all Roma are migratory and roam the countryside, are engaged in questionable and illegal activities, and are out to cheat you and get your money. We see dirty old women wearing ragged long skirts begging for money and asking to read palms. These sorts of conotations are why many Roma consider the term "Gypsy" to be an insult. Some of these myths surrounding them are bred simply of misunderstandings and pure ignorance. Others are more dark rements of unfortunate histories. This is where they myths about the "Gypsies" will be exposed. The term "Gypsy" orgianed in Europe. When they first arrived they were mistakenly identified as having been from Egypt. Sometimes they will be be called Egyptians. In Spanish they are called "Gitano", "Gyupci" in Macedonian, "Ziguener" in German, "Zingari" in Italian, "Tigani" in Romanian, "Gyphtos" in Greek, and "Tsigani" in Russian. These names are said to be varitaions of "Athinganoi" which is a Greek word often translated as "don't touch." This was also the name of a religious sect that used to inhabit Phrygia and Thrace who shunned contact with outsiders. For many years the Roma kept may myths about themselves going. This was because it suitied their purposes for non-Roma to have inmaginative, fanciful explantions of their origins. If they said they had biblical origins and were Christian they could gain sympathy of the people and officials of the places they visited more easily. However, if they had mysterious roots this would make them seem more adapt at fortune telling and give them a mystical presence. However, many of the myths of biblical origin were terribly popular. One of the myths was that the Roma descended from Noah. Another said they were the true descendants of Abraham and Sarah. Others believed that their endless wandering was puishment for being among those who refused to help Joseph and Mary on their flight to Egypt. A popular story said that during the crossing of the Red Sea when the Pharaoh's troops were trapped in the waters a young couple escaped and became the Adam and Eve of the Roma. Possibly the most widespread legend about the 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 of the purpose. Finally, some Roma blacksmiths agreed to make them and for this reason the Roma were condemned to wander the earth forever. There were many ideas that their origins were not based on biblical stories. Often the Roma said they had fled from Egypt and supported this by using titles like "Duke of Egypt." However, there is no such thing as Roma royalty; there are not "Gypsy Kings" or dukes to make laws. When they first came to Europe, imaginative titles of nobility were used to impress their hosts. Since then, journalists have written of Gypsy Kings and Queens and some Roma seeing the romantic image have enouraged this practice. The man who rules each community however was not chosen because he is a part of a royal family but for experince, wisdom, and age. In some cases they were believed to be of Nubian, Abyssinian, Babylonian, or descendants of the Celtic Druids. Their origins truely seemd inexplicable. A very romantic legend stated the Roma were the survivors of the people who had inhabited Atlantis. One belife was that the occupations of choice provided clues to their true origins. Due to their skills at fortune telling they were said to be descendants of the Euxians, neighbours of the Persians, who were known in ancient times for their success in predicting the future. The myth that all Roma are nomadic is very typical and very wrong. The Vlach Roma in Wallachia and Moldavia (both now parts of Romania and Moldova) were officially enslaved until 1856. The Vlach were bound to their owners' farms and homes for over five hundred years under the feudal system. From the fourteenth century until emancipation about half of Europe's Roma population were enslaved. However, among the Vlach the forced sedentary life of slavery seems to have preserved Roma law ans culture overall but some of their cultural characteristics probably came from the host population. Today in Europe it's estimated only around five percent of the Roma are migratory or nomadic. There is common idea that the Roma buy or steal children. This too is a myth with absolutely no basis in fact. Gajikane parents may warn their childre if they don't behave them will be give, or sold, to the Gypsies. Throughout centuries in Europe there have been accusations, some which have resulted in circumstantial guilt and punishment by gadjikano courts, with no basis in reality. Along with this myth goes the myth that they are an immoral people. However in reality the Roma follow strict rules of sexual behavour are not sexually promiscuous. The women are allegedly ready seduce non-Roma men and the men are always looking for innocent non-Roma women. However, infedelity and prostitution are strictly forbiden by the Roma code of marime. When they marry females are expected to be virgins and to remain faithful to their husbands until death. Also, contrary to popular beliefes cleanliness is an important matter for the Roma. They are not then dirty and unconcerned with their own personal hygiene. This fact however is rarely understood by gadje. However, this is a misunderstanding which is fully encouraged by the Roma who will often strive to appear dirty. This dirty appearance is a sure way of avoiding close contact with gadje whom they feel are "impure." In European folklore there are many references to the Romani complexion. One Greek proberb says "go to the Gypsy children and choose the whitest." A word in Romani which some Roma use as a name for themselves is "Cale" which means black. The Roma in Finalnd call themselves Kalo and the Spanish Roma use the term Cale. Caucasian non-Roma are called "parni" or "parnofi" (white) in some Romani dilects; even by fair-skinned Roma. The misconception that the Roma will eat anything they can find is also widespread. It's true that their wandering existance and poverty have forced them to eat foods other people find distasteful there are strict taboos against certain foods. The biggest taboo surround horse meat, which is never to be eaten by Roma but many non-Roma all over the world eat it. Dogs and cats are also forbidden to be eaten. This is due to their unclean status because they clean and groom themselves by licking. Another myth is that they are "primitive" and every Roma is illiterate. Like all generalisations, these are incorrect. First, any culture that one does not understand may appear primiative and irregular if one does not share them nor understand them. Second, while many Roma may or may not be able to read gajikane languages, there are Romanes languages and some are written though most traditions, laws, and other things are passed down orally. Another myth is a romantic picture of Romani life. The Roma are a beautiful, colourfully dressed people, passionate and life-loving, and proud and independent. These are a carefree people who enjoy life's simple pleasures. They create dances and music which throb with joy and passion with seductive, exciting women in colourful long skirts. They live in a world full of dark-faced men with high cheek-bones who are all symbols of unihibited, wild virility. For centuries these ideas have been spread by painters and romantic writers all over the world. In today's world they are most commonly promoted by Renaissance Faires and other medieval enthusiast groups. However, these ideas are as untrue as the ideas that feel the Roma are completely disreputable and immoral. Also, the role-playing games which show Roma clans as supernatural people with fantastic powers, ancestries and morally offensive codes of conduct are generally offensive to the Roma. Some groups would like to take these characters off the role playing games. |