In the reference literature, instead of the familiar word “gypsies”, the term “Roma” is often found. The answer to the question of why this name is preferred, should be sought in the distant past. In this article, you can read about the history of this people and find out what the gypsy flag looks like.
Ancestors of modern gypsies
It is worth noting that the term "Roma" is common only in European countries and the American continent. Armenians call these people “crowbars”, and Palestinians and Syrians - “houses”. Among linguists, there are two versions of the origin of modern gypsies:
- A very long time ago, the northwestern regions of India were inhabited by a nation, some of which migrated to neighboring states.
- Many centuries ago, Gypsies settled on the territory of the Roman Empire (Byzantium), where they lived for almost three hundred years. Accordingly, they called each other Romans. Thus, after isolating the ending from this name and introducing it into the gypsy language, it acquired a new sound, i.e. Roma. Despite the logical explanation, the ancestors of wandering gypsies must still be sought in India.
It would be wrong to think that the Roma went on a journey without a specific goal, where they look, or wandered in search of adventure. Apparently, they left their homes, as they say, not from a good life. Gypsies roamed for serious reasons. Most likely, they were driven by economic considerations. Only in uncharted lands was there an audience for camp artists, many new clients who were interested in fortune telling. Craftsmen got the opportunity to trade the result of their labor. The history of the gypsy people is filled with pain, but at the same time the people did not forget about fun and dancing.
Passionate people
There are differences between Gypsies, depending on their country of residence. Understanding the composition is not easy. There are different ethnic groups with different dialects, occupation and other specific characteristics of culture and ethnic group.
Gypsies are peculiar people for whom generally recognized human values are in the background. A completely different attitude to gold and freedom. Representatives of this nationality are unsurpassed thieves. Roma tend to take revenge on anyone. Legends also circulate about passionate gypsy love, and songs filled with emotions touch the soul. Gypsy music has a special flavor, so it is always nice to listen to the works of the camp.
Education problems
But among the Roma, with rare exceptions, you can find representatives of intelligent and creative professions: architects, painters, writers, etc. These freedom-loving people sacredly honor their national identity, do not “dissolve” in the culture of the area where they have to live by the will of fate. There is even its own gypsy flag.
Despite the fact that representatives of gypsy nationality are found in almost all corners of the globe where civilization is present, they managed to maintain a cultural identity. Including the caste division of community members characteristic of India. Once there was a custom among gypsies, according to which the gypsy family took the children of street children to raise other people. Each mother taught her daughters the tricks of divination.
The role of men and women in the camp
According to the gypsy tradition, several families united in a camp. Each of them had the right to leave this collective when a desire arose. The maximum number of mobile tents reached 25. All that could be earned had to be equally divided between all members of the community, including the disabled and the elderly. The exception was made by representatives of both sexes who did not start families, each of them could count only on half of the relying share. Earnings were sent by male and female groups, between which communication and mutual assistance were established.
Gypsy culture causes shock among civilized nations, but despite this, many traditions have remained to this day.
The rules of life in the camp
All who lived in the camp were forced to strictly observe the moral laws established in the collective. The punishment was exile for a while or forever. At the head of the camp was an authoritative leader, to whom everyone should obey implicitly. He, if necessary, could play the role of a judge. But as soon as the leader once committed an unjust act, he was immediately deprived of authority and expelled from the camp.
In the camp, men occupied a leading position, i.e. a woman, regardless of age, should obey her husband or father accordingly. Moreover, the duty of women was to ensure that men and family were fed. The gypsy flag can be seen in almost every camp. Some are surprised that nomads have their own symbolism.
The man was given the opportunity to acquire several wives, who actually became his employees. It was profitable. Polygamy guaranteed not only comfort, but also to some extent material well-being. No wonder, because the peculiarity of the gypsy family is that female fortunetellers and beggars provided their closest people with money.
Female share in the camp
According to the gypsy tradition, the father, giving his daughter in marriage, paid kalym. Girls 15 or even 12 years old were suitable for creating a marriage. The woman who first became a mother put on a special hat that confirmed the fact of her marriage.
From that moment on, she could go outside and beg for alms. A gypsy family has a large number of children. Therefore, the mother woman had to work very hard to dress and feed them all. When she went to "work", the children remained at best under the supervision of elderly grandmothers. Such living conditions of the younger generation explain why not all of them managed to survive.
Such gypsy customs are shocking. The question has repeatedly been raised about how the children of this nation grow, but traditions remain, and not everyone is ready to destroy them.
The origin of the gypsies, religion and other features
Due to the prevalence of Roma, dialects are present in their language. Nomadic or sedentary gypsies have to learn the language of the region in which they need to live. The historical relationship of Gypsies with India is confirmed by the fact that their vocabulary contains almost thirty percent of Sanskrit (ancient Indo-Aryan) borrowings. The gypsy flag appeared relatively recently for precisely these reasons.
As for religion and beliefs, then constancy does not exist. Gypsies quickly adapt, i.e. adopt the rites of the local population. In any case, they remain superstitious.
The environment also has a significant impact on the diet and style of clothing. In the crowd, a gypsy is easily recognizable by a long wide and motley skirt, traditionally she adorns her ears with earrings, her neck with necklaces, her wrists with bracelets, her fingers with rings. And the music of the gypsies is the most recognizable and sincere.
National flag
In 1971, the World Roma Congress was held in the capital of England, which approved the national sign. The upper part of the banner is painted in blue, symbolizes the sky and spirituality. The lower half primarily symbolizes the surface of the earth, a green field; focuses on such traits of the character of gypsies as practicality and inherent cheerfulness. The gypsy flag carries a special semantic load.
Multi-colored horizontal stripes have the same height. The border between them is an axial line that runs through the center of a red eight-spoke wheel - a symbol of the path. This flag element indicates that gypsies prefer a nomadic lifestyle. The wheel is painted in the color associated with the blood of those gypsies who died during the Second World War. Initially, the gypsy flag was with a golden wheel.
According to an optimistic explanation, the wheel has a red festive color, since representatives of this people love holidays very much. Gypsies who belong to different ethnic groups use different shades when depicting a wheel (chakra) on the flag.
There is still a gypsy hymn of its own. It can often be heard in camps near cities.