Mickiela SanchezCOS MUS 1234

Professor Sean Abel08/05/2012

Gypsy Americans

The Roma

W. R. Rishi

The term “Gypsy” derives from Egyptian, reflecting a MISTAKEN ASSUMPTION of the origins of the people who refer to themselves as the “Romani,” Roma,” or “Rom” for short.

The Rom linguist W. R. Rishi gives the etymology of Rom from the Sanskrit Rama, with meanings that include “one who roams about.”

Jews where NOT the ONLY ones who where targeted in the Holocaust, Gypsies were right along with them being

tortured !

It is known that perhaps 250,000 Gypsies were killed , and that proportionately they suffered losses greater than any other group of victims except for the Jews.

Harassment Part 1 Holocaust, Nazis massacred Gypsies along side Jews

Harassment Part 2

World War I Turks killed Gypsies and Armenians.

Harassment Part 3

Fortune-telling skills of Gypsies was considered to be “black magic.”

Until 1930, Virginia legally barred Gypsies from telling fortunes.

Fortune Tellers(Also known as palmists, readers, or advisors.)

“Fortune-telling actually includes elements of folk psychotherapy and folk healing.”

“All they need is confidence and strength and a friend and that’s what I am.”

Religion

Gypsy spirituality derives from Hindu and Zoroastrian concepts of kintala-balance of harmony, as between good and evil.

When the balance is upset, ancestors send signals to keep people on track.

Many Gypsies are Christian, with denominational allegiances that reflect their countries of origin.

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Ethnic Gypsies are the descendants of diverse groups of people who were assembled in northern India as a military force to resist the eastward movement of Islam.

Over the centuries, they moved westward into northern Africa and Europe, adapting their language and culture in their migrations.

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Settlement Patterns Join American Movement Westward-Gypsies also have joined the American movement westward. Many live in California.

Pursuit of Livelihood-The traditional stereotype of the wanderer of the Gypsy is the wanderer, and some modern Gypsy Americans continue to travel in pursuit of their livelihoods.

Economic Opportunities-Gypsies tend to follow economic opportunities.

Gypsy Instruments

that they packed with them when

they traveled.

Timbale

Pan’s Pipe

Bagpipe

Oboe

Violin

Vertical Flute

Spanish Mandolin

Lute

Tambourine

Castanets

Music

Gypsies are most famous for their contributions as musicians. They have contributed to Americans musical plays.

Parallels between Gypsies and African Americans in European and American cultural history-

Rhythmic innovations that Gypsies brought to Europe were not only Asiatic and Middle Eastern, but also African, at least North African; similarly, African Americans brought innovations of African music to America.

Some Gypsies owned slaves or employed African American laborers.According to legend, some of these men (slaves/laborers) had eloped off with Gypsy daughters.When African American ex-slave minstrels first attempted to taste the freedom of the road in post-Reconstruction America, some claimed to adopt the ethnicity, or at least the title “Gypsy.”

Gypsies owned slaves?

Romani Flag

Blue is the blue sky and the heavens, and symbolizes eternal spiritual values. with the red sixteen-spoked chakra in the center.

The green is the land, organic and growing, and symbolizes earthly values.

The wheel in the center symbolizes movement and progress, and the burst of fire from which all creation emerged at the beginning of time.

Anthem Part 1

Spoken in Romani:

Composed in 1971.

Gelem, gelem, lungone dromensaMaladilem bakhtale RomensaA Romale katar tumen aven,E tsarensa bahktale dromensa?A Romale, A ChavaleVi man sas ek bari familiya,Murdadas la e kali legiyaAven mansa sa lumniake Roma,Kai putaile e romane dromaAke vriama, usti Rom akana,Men khutasa misto kai kerasaA Romale, A ChavalePuter Dewla le parne wudaraTe sai dikhaw kai si me manushaPale ka gav lungone dromencarTa ka phirav bachtale RomensaA Rromalen, A chavalenOpre Rroma isi vaxt akanaAjde mançar sa lumáqe RromaO kalo muj ta e kale jakhaKamàva len sar e kale drakhaA Rromalen, A chavalen.

Translations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0ENp00nSRY

To listen to anthem on youtube go to:

Anthem Part 2

Translation 1:

Translations

I went, I went on long roadsI met happy RomaO Roma where do you come from,With tents on happy roads?O Roma, O brothersI once had a great family,The Black Legions murdered themCome with me Roma from all the worldFor the Roma roads have openedNow is the time, rise up Roma now,We will rise high if we actO Roma, O brothersOpen, God, Black doorsYou can see where are my people.Come back to tour the roadsAnd walk with lucky RomaniO Roma, O brothersUp, Gypsy! Now is the timeCome with me Roma worldBrown face and dark eyesMuch as I like black grapesO Roma, O brothers

Anthem Part 3

Translation 2:

Translations

I have travelled over long roadsI have met fortunate RomaI have travelled far and wideI have met lucky RomaOh, Romani adults, Oh Romani youthOh, Roma, from wherever you have comeWith your tents along lucky roadsI too once had a large familyBut the black legion murdered themCome with me, Roma of the worldTo where the Romani roads have been openedNow is the time - stand up, Roma,We shall succeed where we make the effort.Oh, Roma adults, Oh, Roma youth

Cuisine: “Those who eat together trust one another.”

Gypsies eat two meals a day-one upon rising and the other late in the afternoon.Weight loss is considered to be unhealthy.Greet each other by asking if whether or not they ate that day, if not they would offer food.

The “Lucky Food”:

Sarmaa (cabbage rolls)

Gushvada (cheese strudel)

Ritually sacrificed animal (often a lamb)

Clothing

•Often brilliant reds and yellows.•Dresses with full skirts.•Baggy pants and loose-fitting shirts.•Tons of jewelry.•Boots and a large belt.•Married woman customarily must cover their hair with a diklo, a scarf that is knotted at the nape of the neck.

Earlier Times: Holidays

1) Funerals2) Marriages

Holidays Part 1

Current Times: Holidays

1) Funerals2) Marriages

Holidays Part 2

Work Cited

1) Jelem, Jelem (Romani/Gypsy Anthem) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0ENp00nSRY Uploaded by TheTollundWoman, December 7, 2010

2) Gypsies in the Holocaust http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/gypsies.html The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise, 2012

3) Gypsy Magic http://gypsymagicspells.blogspot.com/2006/11/romani-flag.html

4) Gypsy Americans http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Du-Ha/Gypsy-Americans.html Advameg Inc., 2012

From:

Mickiela Sanchez

To:Professor Sean Abel