Jenn+Kennedy,+Abby


 * __Components of Culture:__ **

The Romani people generally refer to their speaking language as Romani, Romanes, or Romani chib. There are several dialects that go by different names. These include Romnimus, which is in Wales, Calo in Spain, and Kaale in Finland. The language itself also has it’s own particular grammar instead of adapting the grammar that is used in where they reside. Their language might often be hard to translate at times because they use their words very metaphorically. For example, if someone says “He is retiring” in English, the Romani would translate it to “His sun is setting”. As far as names go, Gypsies usually choose Christian names similar to the people around them. Some of the common names are, Yanko, Milano, or Zlatcho for men, and Mara, Pavlena, or Tinka for women.
 * __Language__ : **

In Romani culture, marriage is something that is hugely valued because it’s part of tradition. Gypsies are expected to get an arranged marriage in the middle of their teen years. The groom’s parents are usually the ones who make the decision of who their son is going to marry, with the bride’s parents accepting in return. With marriage, a bride who is a virgin is valued and basically needed before marriage. Any bride who is not a virgin before marriage is frowned upon and is not a bride to be wed. The wedding is a huge deal as it is a huge celebration in their culture. Also in this culture, they value their traditions by following old customs. It is known that the women stay home to take care of the kids and the house, along with the husband when he is home. The role for the men are to go out and work to be the support for the family.
 * __Values__ : **

Hundreds of years ago the Romani people worshipped different gods compared to present day. They were even some of the last groups who worshipped Goddesses in Europe. Kali was the goddess they worshipped and they also believed in a male horned god. Roma religious beliefs are very deeply rooted in Hinduism and they believe in kuntari, universal balance. The only spiritual leaders are the elders and they don’t have bibles, churches, or priests. The only time they might have that are when it comes to the Pentecostal Roma people. Today, the Romani people have moved to different locations around the world. Some may keep some areas of these older beliefs and ways of worshipping. Most Romani just take the most popular religion of the country they inhabit. Some Roma still practice Shaktism which means they worship a god but through a female. So they will pray to the Virgin Mary or Saint Ann if they worship the Christian God. Romani people also believe in the existence of God, the existence of Satan, bad luck, supernatural spirits, ghosts, good luck charms, amulets, talismans, curses, healing rituals, newborns being baptized, having three names, not having premarital sex, reincarnation, women not exposing their legs, fortune telling, and natural healing techniques. Some of these beliefs have changed over time and some have just gone away. It just depends how much the specific Roma family relies on their culture and how much they are affected by today’s society. The Romani people, also known as Gypsies, or Roma, generally try to avoid mixing with people whom are not Gypsies. Their term referring to someone outside of their ethnic group is called “gadzo”. They still believe marrying a “gadzo” is forbidden, because parents want their children to carry out tradition. The parents reasoning behind their strictness may involve the idea of self-preservation. The Romani try to only socialize with their kind because they think that if they are with gadze it affects their spiritual energy called the “dji”. If you hang around gadze too long then you must immediately plunge yourself into and all-Romani world. Which is why most Romani people keep to themselves. Romani’s also always want to have a clean spirit as well as physical hygiene. Their appearance is important to them. They should traditionally wash clothing worn above the waist separately from clothing worn below the waist. Also, they should wash their hands immediately after touching shoes, and food that falls on the ground can not be eaten.
 * __Beliefs__ : **
 * __Behaviors__ : **


 * __Factors of cultural change and globalization:__ **

Nowadays tv shows like My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding on TLC send out an image and generalization for all Roma people. They show specifically American Gypsies who live by tradition and being very family oriented. They try to maintain some of their gypsy culture and continually face discrimination. They differentiate from the stereotypical gypsy and changed some of their ways to fit into the modern day. Even still, they are very different from the people that surround them in America. Now with this technology people across the world can see these gypsies on the internet and television. It affects how everyone sees them and how they change to fit into society. This show and others like it make gypsies more well known to the world and change people’s judgements on their lives.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__Commercialization and Technology__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: **

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Romani people were never accepted in society, were constantly persecuted for their ways, and targeted for discrimination. Due to this they were forced to leave their villages, relocate, and/or become nomadic. They now live throughout the globe dispersed <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">and still not treated like everyone else. Due to the change in location, they lose a lot of their culture trying to fit in with the rest of the population and change their heritage. They take on the nationality of the country they live in and will call themselves American Roma, Canadian Roma and so on. Travelling around the world has changed and lost a lot of their culture. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Roma’s heritage can be conveyed through dance and music. Their music has traces of all the cultures they have experienced through travelling the world for new homes. Some Roma music today is known throughout the world. Some examples include the Flamenco of the Spanish Roma and Hungarian Roma music which can be played on violins and cimbaloms. It’s played in Hungarian restaurants across Canada and the United States. Roma musicians and choirs have performed for the royal family, nobility, army officers, and businessmen at public venues. It has become known throughout the world making Roma people be known for some positive things. Without travelling across different countries, Roma music wouldn’t be what it is today.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">__Travel__ <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">: **

__ Citations: __ __** Primary Sources: **__

Andrews, Andre M. "Audio Slideshow: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Culture." BBC News. BBC, 30 June 2010. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwales/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8776000/8776747.stm>.

This video explained modern Gypsy life and culture. It was narrated by a Gypsy and she explained how her life was as a kid and how it is now.

Cantrell, Julie. "Julie's Journal." Julie's Journal. N.p., 5 Feb. 2012. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. <http://juliecantrell.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/about-the-roma-interview-with-romani-american-traveler/>.

This interview is very valuable because the interview is with a Romani Person. The interviewer is is asking very interesting questions. This is also very important because Gypsies don’t like to talk to people outside of the gypsy world.

__** Print Source: **__

Hancock, Ian F.. We are the Romani people = Ame sam e Rromane dz̆ene. Paris, France: Centre de recherches tsiganes ; University of Hertfordshire Press, 2002. Print.

This book was written by a Romani person and gives a different view on their life. While it has bias, it offers the ability to see the life of a Romani through the eyes of a Roma.

Wesbite for Print Source: [|http://books.google.com/books?id=MG0ahVw-kdwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=romani&source=bl&ots=PjSJPUtsUj&sig=Axif1jyEJnVkyRYt3EeRhCBB-ZY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=nWA9UJbrCaLz0gGS5oDIBg&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=romani&f=false]

__** Secondary Sources: **__

Robinson, B.A. . "The Roma: Their beliefs and practices." The home page of the ReligiousTolerance.org web site. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. <http://www.religioustolerance.org/roma2.htm>.

This website gave a lot of information on the beliefs of the Romani. It included a lot of specific ideas, gods, and values that the Romani people followed.

"Roma - Introduction, Location, Language, Folklore, Religion, Major holidays, Rites of passage, Relationships, Living conditions." Countries and Their Cultures. Advameg Inc., n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. <http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Norway-to-Russia/Roma.html#b>.

This website showed information about the Roma all the way back to when they first originated to present day. It helped a lot when it came to how their culture has changed with technology and change of location. __** Other Sources: **__

"About My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding." TLC. Discovery Communications, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2[|012. <http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/my-big-fat-american-gypsy-wedding/about-my-big-fat-american-gypsy-wedding.htm] >.

This website gave me more information on the tv show about Gypsies. It talked about the point of the show and it’s purpose.

"Countries and Their Cultures." Marriage and Family. JRank, n.d. Web. 28 Aug. 2012. <http://www.everyculture.com/Russia-Eurasia-China/Gypsies-Marriage-and-Family.html>.

This website focuses on something that the Romani people greatly value, which is marriage. It explains the process of it, how it works, and it also explains how the Romani live.

Kiger, Patrick J. "Romani Culture and Traditions." National Geographic Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2012. <http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/american-gypsies/articles/romani-culture-and-traditions/>.