Many centuries in the past, the Roma were some of the last Goddess-worshipers in Europe. Their Goddess, Kali, was viewed as a trinity. Her symbol was a triangle. A male Horned God also played a prominent role. The similarities between ancient Roma belief and that of Wicca are obvious. These beliefs have long been abandoned by the Roma.
There is today no single Roma culture. Nor is there general agreement on who should qualify to be called a Roma. Romani groups around the world hold different traditions, customs and beliefs. Groups that have settled in one location generally absorb some of the gajikané (non-Roma) local culture. Most Roma have converted the religions of their host countries, typically Christianity (Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism), and Islam. Their formal religious affiliation is often supplemented by Roma traditional beliefs:
* the existence of Del (God)
* the existence of beng (Satan)
* the existence of bibaxt (bad luck) and of muló (supernatural spirits or ghosts).
* the power of good luck charms, amulets and talismans
* the power of curses
* the power of healing rituals
* Marimé is a state of impurity brought on a person by the violation of a purity taboo. It also means a "sentence of expulsion imposed for violation of purity rules or any behavior disruptive to the Roma community." Some Roma consider the part of a woman's body below the waist to be dirty or polluted, because it is associated with menstruation. 1 In many tribes, women wear long skirts, the bottoms of which must not touch a man other than her husband.
* A pregnant woman is considered unclean. She must not give birth in the family home because it would then become impure. Sometimes knots are ritually untied as the birth approaches. This is believed to assure that the umbilical cord will not be tangled. After birth, anything that the new mother touches is later destroyed. This quarantine continues at least until the baptism of the baby.
* Newborns are baptized, usually in running water, when they are a few weeks old. Often, the infant is massaged with oil; this is believed to make it strong.
bullet A Roma typically has three names. The first is known only by the mother; it is given at the time of birth. Its purpose is to confuse evil spirits by keeping the real name of the child from them. The second name is conferred at the time of baptism, and is the commonly used name within the tribe. A third, different name may be given when the child is re-baptized in a Christian church. It has little importance, except when dealing with non-Roma.
* In the past, people were typically married between the ages of 9 to 14. This tradition has changed in many tribes due to the influence of the surrounding culture. Pre-marital sex is very strongly forbidden. Marriages to outsiders are heavily discouraged. The wedding ceremony is usually simple. In some tribes, the bride and groom join hands in front of the chief or an elder and promise to be true to each other. In ancient times, they used be married by jumping over a broomstick in the presence of their families.
* When a person dies, relatives and friends gather around and ask for forgiveness for any bad deeds that they have done to that person. They are concerned that if such grievances are not settled, then the dead person might come back as an evil spirit and cause trouble. In the past, the widow might commit suicide when her husband died so that she could accompany him during the afterlife. Sometimes, the deceased's nostrils are plugged with wax so that evil spirits cannot enter and occupy the body. Clothing, tools, eating utensils, jewelry, and money may be placed in the coffin in order to help the deceased in the next world. The deceased's possessions are burned, broken or sold to non-Roma.
* They believe that a person can be reincarnated as another human or animal. Alternatively, they might appear as a muló or "living dead", seeking revenge on anyone who harmed him during his life on earth.
* Many Roma rules of behavior relate to the use of water. They normally wash in running water, as in a shower. Baths are not used. Women's and men's clothes are washed separately, because of the impurities of a woman's body. Clothes of a pregnant or menstruating woman are washed furthest downstream from the camp, to avoid contamination.
* Women must not expose their legs. They wear long, multi-colored skirts.
* Out of respect for the importance of the horse in assuring Roma mobility, the eating of horse meat is prohibited in some tribes.
* Many Roma women, called drabardi practice fortune telling. But fortunes are only read for non-Romas.
bullet Other women are are called drabarni or drabengi and practice natural healing techniques.
ahhhhhhhhhhh.. my ever soooooooo sweet, Sistah Els!;) What will i do without u? :P
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Sistah Barb, yeah im with u. Just posted it up to inform others some things about the olden times. lol I think there are only few of us who take time to read it.
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Oh well.. till next time.....
OFF I GO AGAIN TO NEVER NEVER LAND!!! lmao
Re: Beliefs and Practices By: BarbieQueen / Knowledgeable
Post # 7 Nov 19, 2008
It kinda sucks because it made me feel that it was bad to be a female when in all actuality its one of the best so in a way I'm glad that I grew up with them because as I got older and I became a woman I noticed that these taboos were just stupid.
I did find your post interesting Oakwood, thank you.
BarbieQueen I was going to refrain from commenting because I do not wish to offend anyone's beliefs but since you brought it up I will ;-)
Personally I dislike the practices/beliefs of women being unclean, and you hit it on the head! I'm glad you were strong enough to see through it and know being female is powerful and wonderful!
We give life, and are only "unclean" if we choose to be...I feel modern Women of ANY belief should take outdated practices (that I think were put into play to "keep us down") with a big grain of salt as they relate to us :-)I am big on honoring the Ancestors but realistic enough to know men were always trying to be boss however they could...not that it ever will work ;-)
I grew up with some taboos and some really important superstitions. Most people that grew up with Romany families are still bound to them. I bind my boyfriend to them and even though he doesn't believe, he listens to me because he knows it is important to me. :)
