Roma (people), commonly known as Gypsies, a traditionally nomadic people found throughout the world. While the term gypsy is often attached to anyone leading a nomadic life, the Roma share a common biological, cultural, and linguistic heritage that sets them apart as a genuine ethnic group.
When they first arrived in Europe over 500 years ago, the Roma were called Gypsies in the mistaken belief that they had come from Egypt. The true origins of the Roma remained a mystery until the late 18th century, when European linguists discovered connections between the Romani language and certain dialects spoken in northwestern India. More recent linguistic and historical studies have confirmed that the Roma originated in India.
The world population of Roma is difficult to establish with any certainty. Estimates suggest that there are between approximately 15 and 30 million Roma worldwide. Some 10 million Roma live in Europe, and they make up that continent’s largest minority population. The largest concentrations of Roma are found in the Balkan peninsula of southeastern Europe, in central Europe, and in Russia and the other successor republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Smaller numbers are scattered throughout western Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Americas.
The Roma are divided into groups sometimes referred to as nations or tribes. These divisions generally reflect historical patterns of settlement in different geographic areas. The European tribes include the Calé of Spain, Finland, and Wales; the Sinti of Germany and central Europe; the Manouche of France; the Romanichals of the United Kingdom; the Boyash of Romania; and the Roma, a subgroup of the larger Roma population, of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Although historically renowned as wanderers, the vast majority of modern Roma live in settled communities.
Because the Roma are widely dispersed, their culture and social organization vary considerably. An important characteristic everywhere, however, is a strong sense of group identity. Romani culture stresses the sacredness of its own traditions in opposition to those of the outside world. Contact with non-Roma is regarded as potentially polluting, a belief probably derived from the religious beliefs of the Roma’s Hindu ancestors. Another unifying force is their language, Romani, which consists of a number of dialects belonging to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. Most Roma speak some form of Romani. Others speak dialects of local languages with extensive borrowings from Romani. Romani is primarily a spoken rather than written language. Until recent years most Roma were illiterate, and illiteracy rates remain high in most Roma communities.
Roma usually adopt the religious faith of the countries in which they live. Some Roma are Roman Catholic, while others embrace the Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, or Islamic faiths. Generally the Roma prefer to carry out religious rituals in their own homes or as part of folk observances.
Roma (people), commonly known as Gypsies, a traditionally nomadic people found throughout the world. While the term gypsy is often attached to anyone leading a nomadic life, the Roma share a common biological, cultural, and linguistic heritage that sets them apart as a genuine ethnic group.
When they first arrived in Europe over 500 years ago, the Roma were called Gypsies in the mistaken belief that they had come from Egypt. The true origins of the Roma remained a mystery until the late 18th century, when European linguists discovered connections between the Romani language and certain dialects spoken in northwestern India. More recent linguistic and historical studies have confirmed that the Roma originated in India.
The world population of Roma is difficult to establish with any certainty. Estimates suggest that there are between approximately 15 and 30 million Roma worldwide. Some 10 million Roma live in Europe, and they make up that continent’s largest minority population. The largest concentrations of Roma are found in the Balkan peninsula of southeastern Europe, in central Europe, and in Russia and the other successor republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Smaller numbers are scattered throughout western Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Americas.
The Roma are divided into groups sometimes referred to as nations or tribes. These divisions generally reflect historical patterns of settlement in different geographic areas. The European tribes include the Calé of Spain, Finland, and Wales; the Sinti of Germany and central Europe; the Manouche of France; the Romanichals of the United Kingdom; the Boyash of Romania; and the Roma, a subgroup of the larger Roma population, of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Although historically renowned as wanderers, the vast majority of modern Roma live in settled communities.
Because the Roma are widely dispersed, their culture and social organization vary considerably. An important characteristic everywhere, however, is a strong sense of group identity. Romani culture stresses the sacredness of its own traditions in opposition to those of the outside world. Contact with non-Roma is regarded as potentially polluting, a belief probably derived from the religious beliefs of the Roma’s Hindu ancestors. Another unifying force is their language, Romani, which consists of a number of dialects belonging to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. Most Roma speak some form of Romani. Others speak dialects of local languages with extensive borrowings from Romani. Romani is primarily a spoken rather than written language. Until recent years most Roma were illiterate, and illiteracy rates remain high in most Roma communities.
Roma usually adopt the religious faith of the countries in which they live. Some Roma are Roman Catholic, while others embrace the Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, or Islamic faiths. Generally the Roma prefer to carry out religious rituals in their own homes or as part of folk observances.
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