need help w/ gypsy culture

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need help w/ gypsy culture
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Post # 1
so I recently found out that I am half romanian gypsy. How do I go about learning more? I mean do gypsy's actually partake in magic or is it just cons?
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Re: need help w/ gypsy culture
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Post # 2

Learn more about Gypsy culture. I mean it's not that difficult to pull up a few reliable sources on the internet if you look hard enough. Regarding your second question, anyone can partake in magic. Just because you found out your half romani, doens't mean you're personally barred from practicing the art.

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Re: need help w/ gypsy culture
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 3
The term Romany Gypsy is not confined to the country of Romania, it also applies to others of nearby countries.Hungary, Slovakia,etc. They were called Romany Gypsies because they were a nomadic tribe within the Roman empire. It is thought that they probably originated in Egypt; hence Gypsy. At one time they were known to be very good tinkers. They are also hard workers. Many used to work in the Hop fields in England. Romany Gypsies are now spread through most of the world; many in the USA. Many are "fortune tellers", and can be found in just about every seaside resort in the UK.
They should not be thought of the same as the Irish "travellers". If some "gypsy" comes to your door selling "lucky heather" it will definitely not be a Romany! A real Romany Gypsy would not lower herself to such behaviour! If she was selling clothes pegs, made by her husband, she may very well be Romany. As I have said, Romany Gypsies are hardworking people, good at making things, and repairing things.
I have met many Romany Gypsies in my life time; and they are certainly not thieves,rogues, and vagabonds!
We even have a phrase in the English language that comes directly from Romany Gypsies. When a Gypsy had to repair a hole in a metal pan, he would chew a little bread, and make a tiny dam to hold the solder. When he finished the repair he would throw away the "dam". So anything that was completely useless was "not worth a dam".
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Re: need help w/ gypsy culture
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Post # 4
While i know nothing about the Gypsy culture, i have heard it has an amazing philosophy to follow, or learn.

In my opinion, i will not try to go into detail, as again i know nothing about Gypsy's in this day and age, however here are some of the main beliefs. Correct me if i am wrong.

*It is often called "Roma" as Bryson has already pointed out above me.

*About 11 Million people follow this path, or this ethnic group.

*It is said that Gypsy kinda means or explains the Egyptian beliefs, or what came from Egypt

In some views the Gypsy's didn't approve of organized culture. Which is in a way fine, but we do however need structure in life! Sigh.

*cleanliness, purity, respect, honor and justice were the main views of this culture. It was unholy, or dis honorable to be seen as anything less, or act anyways besides this.


I also know there is a coven about Gypsy witchcraft on SoM. You can certainty talk to the people of the coven, and ask for some help. Also check in the articles, i have seen bunch on this topic.

Here is a small link that will at least explain the basic beliefs and history of the Roma's

http://www.livescience.com/44512-gypsy-culture.html
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Re: need help w/ gypsy culture
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 5
This thread has been moved to Misc Topics from Introduce Yourself.
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Re: need help w/ gypsy culture
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 6
Sorry,CrawIzzy, but the Romany Gypsies have a very "organised" culture! All the Romanies I ever met were Catholic Christians. A family of Romanies used to winter camp near where I lived as a boy. They were very organised! They had "elders" who kept discipline. None of the children went to school, but they could all read and write. The children were very skilled with horses! All the family, and there were about fifty people in all, went to Mass every Sunday. They mainly cooked outside, so they did leave quite a mess of fire debris when they left in the Spring. But the neaghbours would collect the ash and put it on their gardens.
In general, the Gypsies were clean, tidy, and no trouble at all.
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Re: need help w/ gypsy culture
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Post # 7
Oh okay. Thanks Bryson, i did not know that!
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Re: need help w/ gypsy culture
By: / Beginner
Post # 8
I think Brysing covered all the basics here. To learn more though, go to your local library and see what they have available. I know I've found books on gypsy folktales at mine as well as a couple of history themed books. You might make an awesome find at yours. When searching online, always make sure the sites are creditable. The Romany culture is commonly stereotyped and this leads to a few websites out there that are just based on that.

As for if they partook in magick, a lot of them did way back in the day. Some of those traditions stayed around even when many of the Romany groups converted to Catholic. Raymond Buckland is a witchcraft author of Romany blood who has written several books on it. You might find them very interesting reads. Here are a list of his books that deal with the culture:

-Buckland's Book of Gypsy Magic: Travelers' Stories, Spells & Healings
-Gypsy Witchcraft and Magic
-Secrets of Gypsy Fortunetelling
-Secrets of Gypsy Love Magick
-Gypsy Dream Dictionary

Good luck on researching your heritage!
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Re: need help w/ gypsy culture
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 9
There are two other books, both very old (Well, about the 19th century I think) written by a man called George Borrow.They are the only books I have read about Gypsies. They were "Lavengro" and "The Romany Rye." Rye in Romany "palava" means educated,or Gentleman, "a man of knowledge".
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Re: need help w/ gypsy culture
By: Moderator / Adept
Post # 10
For the interest of CarleyLauren perhaps I should explain that word"palava". Whenever I was in that camp (I was about 10 at that time) the older men would start talking in what I thought was a "foreign" language; and they would regularly say something to each other. "Chaver nante palava. asked on of the girls what it meant, and she said "It means he cannot understand Romany."
That girl had a lovely name,by the way. She was called Chiquita Delores Petulengro.
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