13 Gypsy Facts That Will Surprise You

Gypsies are the largest people on Earth in terms of numbers, without their own statehood. Many people treat them with extreme caution and dislike because the gypsies are famous for their thieving and hypnotic skills. But what else do you know about gypsies? We are sure that in the selection that you will read today, you will discover many new facts for yourself and, quite possibly, this will make you look at the gypsies with completely different eyes ...

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1. From an ethnic point of view, single people "gypsies" do not exist and this community is rather heterogeneous. However, it is easier for the Roma themselves and those around them to unite all the Gypsies into one group because, in terms of lifestyle, all these Sinti, Manush, Kale, and others almost do not differ in any way.

2. The most terrible punishment for any gypsy is the deprivation of the right to belong to a gypsy camp. It is applied only under the most difficult circumstances, as well as after the commission of serious crimes.

3. The word "lave", which is now on the lips of all young people, comes from the gypsy language, and in translation into Russian it means, of course, money.

4. It is not customary for gypsies to cut their hair short, because according to long-standing traditions, a girl’s short hair is a symbol of dishonor. Hair was cut only by the exiled and isolated, so until now the gypsies avoid this kind of haircut.

5. The concept of "badness" is very interesting among gypsies. This word gypsies call the lower part of the female body. It is enough for her to walk over something, as this place becomes "desecrated". That is, the skirt and shoes of any girl or woman are automatically "desecrated". For the same reason, in order not to be defiled, gypsies prefer to live in small, one-story houses, but in a two-story gypsy house, no woman has the right to go up to the second floor while the man is on the first.

6. The most common and unusual dish in the diet of gypsies is a fried or baked hedgehog. Especially the Polish and Baltic gypsies love it. And it arose, most likely, during the period of life in the forests, during the constant persecution of the gypsies in the past.

7. During the holidays, you are unlikely to see drunken gypsies. It is not customary for them to drink a lot at the table, therefore, during the festivities, young people are on duty, and are not allowed to drink in the presence of elders. They, in turn, serve to prevent possible conflicts between guests and relatives during feasts.

8. The cult of children is so widespread among the Gypsies that adoption is a common thing for them. Such a good habit also arose the reason that every gypsy is obliged to have at least one son in his family. If the heir does not appear for a long time, then the parents adopt the boy from the orphanage. An adopted child can be of any nationality and have any appearance. In part, this is where the widespread myth that gypsies steal children came from.

9. Among gypsies, the more successfully a woman brings up her children (in their own opinion), the more honor she has, and the more significant her own opinion and position in gypsy society.

10. The things of the deceased gypsy or what he touched before his death are considered dirty and are buried with him in the grave. The same thing happens with the things of the woman in labor, although this can be explained not only by the religion of the people but also from the point of view of sanitary conditions.

11. Almost all gypsies marry while still virgins. According to an old custom, a bloody sheet is shown to all guests on the wedding day as proof of the virginity of the bride.

12. The father of the bride or her brothers appoints a ransom for the bride in gold in kilograms or banks. For example, they may ask for a couple of three-liter jars of gold jewelry: rings, chains, earrings, etc.

13. According to tradition, gypsy funerals are rich and magnificent (just like weddings). Sometimes children have to save more than one year for the funeral of still-living parents. It is considered a special luxury to erect a stone monument to the deceased with a full-length portrait.