The Gypsy and Traveller community firmly believe that “marriage is for life” and divorce is rare. Older children may be particularly reluctant to leave permanently.
For Romany people, the family is very much their support system. They observe strict hygiene laws known as Mochadi, which consist of important principles about, for example, hand washing prior to handling food or dishes, after getting dressed in the morning and before going to the kitchen.
At the same time both qualitative and quantitative studies show a steady trend of gradual increase in the marriageable age and age at first child birth among Roma, and today most of the Romani females get married after reaching the lawful age of 18.
Marriages are traditionally organized by the parents, with the matchmaking typically started by the parents of the groom. Unmarried young men and women are prohibited from socializing alone together, because a large worth is put on female purity.
How do the girls stay so slim? It turned out that just like their romany cousins across the pond, these romanichal gypsy girls eat a lot of malt vinegar and salt. However, unlike the Brits they don't sprinkle them on their chips (fries): they put them on fruit.
You may have Romani, Traveller or Gypsy ancestry if your family tree includes common Romani or Gypsy surnames such as Boss, Boswell, Buckland, Chilcott, Codona, Cooper, Doe, Lee, Gray/Grey, Harrison, Hearn, Heron, Hodgkins, Holland, Lee, Lovell, Loveridge, Royles/Ryalls, Scamp, Smith, Stevens/Stephens, Wood and Young.
To determine if the bride is a virgin, she has to pass the “test of the handkerchief” which consists of getting the bride into a private room and extract blood from her hymen. The “ajuntaora” uses a handkerchief and it must show three roses to prove her virginity, otherwise, the girl cannot get married.
It could also be stated that polygamy is quite common among Turkish Gypsies, as we have met several husbands with 7 or even 11 wives in the course of our research. The underlying reasons for polygamy are mainly patriarchal traditions and the absence of an official marriage especially among the traveling Gypsies.
Research shows that domestic abuse is a significant health issue for the Gypsy & Traveller community. A recent study estimated that between 60% – 80% of women from travelling communities experience domestic abuse during their lives, compared to 25% of the female population generally.
Some of the better known areas of work that Gypsies and Travellers are involved in include seasonal agricultural work, motor trading and tree-felling. Some are employed as academics, teachers and public servants and in this way they add to the local economy.
Grabbing is a controversial ritual practiced by some Irish Traveller men as a way of expressing their affection. They grab the girls in hopes to stake a romantic claim.
Danielle Maughan, who has appeared in C4's My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, was one day past her 16th birthday when she married 21-year-old Brendan Joyce in Corby, Northhants, this weekend.
The High Court has rejected a claim that Gypsies occupying caravans on private land were discriminated against by legislation which resulted in them not being able to claim full Housing Benefit to cover their rent.
Both sexes are expected to marry someone within their tribe and most Gypsies conform by marrying someone within their group. If a Gypsy male marries a non-gypsy female, his community may eventually accept her, provided that she adopts the Gypsy way of life.
Most Eastern European Roma are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Muslim. Those in Western Europe and the United States are mostly Roman Catholic or Protestant. In southern Spain, many Roma are Pentecostal, but this is a small minority that has emerged in contemporary times.
Accept that the woman may return to her community – she may feel she has little or no choice. The Gypsy and Traveller community firmly believe that “marriage is for life” and divorce is rare. Older children may be particularly reluctant to leave permanently.
Traditional roles include gardening, building, vehicle trade, animal trade and more. One of the reasons Gypsies and Travellers are more likely to be in self-employment is because of discrimination when applying for jobs. Romani people speak Romany Jib/Romani Ĉib.
What is the difference between a pikey and a Gypsy?
Pikey's most common contemporary use is not as a term for the Romani ethnic group, but as a catch-all phrase to refer to people, of any ethnic group, who travel around with no fixed abode. Among English Romani Gypsies the term pikey refers to a Traveller who is not of Romani descent.
The Boswells were for centuries one of England's largest and most important Gypsy families. The Boswell clan were a large extended family of Travellers, and in old Nottinghamshire dialect the word bos'll was used as a term for Travellers and Roma in general.
Gorger comes from the Romani language gorgio or gadjo, referring to a person who is not an ethnic Romani. Its etymology is obscure. In 19th-century England, a gorger was adopted as a slang term for a “man,” including a “dandy” or “landlord.”
What is the gypsy handkerchief test for virginity?
In the Gypsy culture, there is a ritual that determines if the bride still retains her virginity, the so-called “handkerchief test” is performed to check the purity of the bride on the same wedding day. Sometimes, it is also called “town hall.”
Another featured gypsy, Nettie, said that everyone is treated with the same level of respect, regardless of whether they are in a relationship with a relative or not. “Some marry cousins, we don't treat them differently. They are family and we love them,” she said. “We would never treat them badly.”
These groups share a nomadic life style, but have racial make-up and cultural traditions that easily distinguish them from other non-house dwellers. They rarely marry non-travellers, but frequently do marry cousins.
