Unearthing a fascinating collection of old Romani names that were used in England around the turn of the last century.

“Things have a life of their own,” the gypsy proclaimed with a harsh accent. “It’s simply a matter of waking up their souls.” — Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude In 1952, Jacques Léonard (1909-1994), the son of a Romany horse dealer and the owner of a needlework workshop in Paris … Continue reading "Falling In Love With Barcelona’s Romany People: Photographs of 1960s Montjuïc by Jacque Leonard"

peace to you c. 1914 courtesy Indiana Music Libraries, site address to the right I searched, but could not find a way to say 'peace' in any Romany language. So, we will have to do with English today! gypsy caravan paper cutting by Helen Musselwhite Who doesn't know Cher's famous rendition of 'Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves'? Here is a recording of Cher, with some great footage of gypsies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_Dec9Tu3BU vintage gypsy woman with guitar I first started researching the Romany people for two reasons: 1. I love their gypsy wagons! 2. I could not believe it when in 2009 France deported 10,000 Roma to Romania and Bulgaria as illegal immigrants. By the summer of 2012 the mounting criticism of the French government over their treatment of the Roma spurred an emergency meeting for talks on how to handle the estimated 15,000 Roma living in camps across France. Roma relocation to Bucharest www.affordablehousinginstitute.org vintage gypsies caravan commons.wikimedia.org Gypsies have a long history of culture and traditions. New studies in 2012 revealed that the most likely origins of the Romany peoples occurred out of India in the early 12th century. vintage photo gypsy woman It had long been believed that the gypsies came out of Egypt, resulting in the name 'gypsy' and due to their darker skin tones. However, the new studies disprove that. forever friends at the Horse Fair in Stowe, England www.dapagroup.com Truthfully, I even get mixed up on the proper terms to use! So please, if I use a word wrong, drop me a comment so I can be more accurate. c.1915 You can find Roma, or Travellers, all over the world. I didn't know that! There are of course the Travellers in Britain and the U.S.A. and Canada. There are distinct Roma families in Eastern Europe, including Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, etc. 'Feast with Gipsy Musicians' by Theodor Aman, 1884 Also sizable Romany populations are in Western Europe, such as Germany, France, Sweden, Finland, Norway and more. 'Young Gypsies" by William Adolphe Bouguereau, 1879 There are even populations in South America! Spanish Gypsy c.1850 Gypsy dancers on the village Green, United Kingdom, 2007 Dausa people, India, 2008 www.pbase.com Today many Roma peoples reject the term 'gypsy' because of all the historically negative images and innuendos connected with the word. sign in a South London business window This prejudice is traditionally found in Eastern European countries with large Romany populations, but recent tensions have spread with Romany families seeking a new life in Western Europe. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/08/scientists-romany-were-european-500-years-earlier-than-previously-thought/ Western Europe gypsies, www.vintage.es In 1992 Bert Karlsson, leader of the Ny Demokrati in Sweden said: 'Gypsies are responsible for 90% of crime against senior citizens in Sweden.' courtesy annalevi.blogspot.com In Central and Eastern Europe the Romas often live in squatter communities. Very high unemployment plagues them. gypsy boy sitting in ruins of home outside Madrid, destroyed by the Spanish government www.photoblog.nbcnews.com Thousands of Romany were deported and their encampments were razed during the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, France. Roma forced displacement, waiting in Paris, France for plane to Romania, 2012 Romany women displaced from France, 11/2012 www.chronicle.com This is part I of a series on Gypsies. I'll post for now, but I will have more next time! Have a wonderful day, inkspired www.inkspired.etsy.com www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com and on pinterest: kkloberdans

Gypsies are always given a bad name, but trust me when I say you can't be farther from the truth! Here is my story. Nell Rose

Explore eclectic gipsyland's 2843 photos on Flickr!

Gypsies Tramps and Thieves. Although historically, they were sometimes referred to as 'dirty gypsies' by outsiders, in practice, the culture has a long history of strict codes of cleanliness that guide their behaviours and they often regard non-gypsies as unclean.

The USA is chock full of different social groups, ethnic groups, gangs, etc. In Ireland and the UK things are no different, but there is on...

In mid-August, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his government began deporting local Roma reside

French real photo postcard, early 20th century. Unused.

In mid-August, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his government began deporting local Roma reside

Here are the remaining photos of the Gypsy Dancing Boys from my visit to the KC Renaissance Festival last Saturday.

The vibrant horse-drawn vardo wagons of the Romani people were at the cultural heart of the British Romanichals (Romani) from the mid-1800s into the early

Most of these images are from the Museum of English Rural Life but I'm not sure where I found the top image, if anyone knows I'd love to find out :)