Nomadic life: discover the culture and history of the gypsies

Gypsy culture attracts curiosity and has peculiarities. Gypsies, also known as Roma, are a people with a rich and complex trajectory dating back to northern India. Discover this curious story.

Their westward migration is estimated to have begun around the 10th century, traveling through Persia, Asia Minor, and Europe.

Gypsies are known for their nomadic lifestyle, often living in itinerant communities and constantly traveling from place to place.

Over the centuries, the Gypsy people have faced persecution and discrimination, but they have also adapted and enriched the cultures of the countries they have visited.

Gypsy customs vary depending on the region and the specific group, but some elements are common in many communities. Discover now some of the most common habits in gypsy culture!

Family: The basis of Gypsy culture is the extended family, with a strong emphasis on blood ties and respect for elders. Important decisions are made together and the community supports each other.

Language: The Romani language is an Indo-European language with several dialects. Although many Gypsies master the language of the country in which they live, the Romani language preserves their cultural identity.

Religion: Most gypsies did not follow a specific religion; They adhered to the beliefs of the place where they lived, that is, they could be Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical, Spiritualist or even Muslim.

In general, Gypsy people tend to have a set of beliefs and principles to follow, even if they do not worship the figure of a specific God.

Music and dance: Music and dance are central elements of Gypsy culture. Vibrant rhythms and melodies are often accompanied by instruments such as guitar, accordion and tambourine.

Gypsy dance is expressive and sensual, it transmits joy, emotion and freedom.

Work: Traditionally gypsies engaged in itinerant activities such as trading, crafts, hardware and divination. Nowadays, many Roma also work in sectors such as music, art, education and healthcare.

Today, gypsies are widespread throughout the world, with estimates ranging between 10 and 20 million people.

The three countries with the largest Roma populations are: United States (about 1 million), Brazil (about 800 thousand) and Spain (about 710 thousand).

In addition to these, Türkiye, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, France and Slovenia also have significant Roma populations.

The gypsies arrived in Brazil together with the Portuguese explorers. The Portuguese authorities saw the distant parts of the empire as an opportunity to get rid of these people who they felt were unwelcome.

Gypsies faced prejudice in Europe and this continued in the Americas as well. One of the reasons for this prejudice was the way they lived. While most people lived in the same place, gypsies moved from place to place.

They also had no written laws, which was common at that time. Although they accepted Christianity, they performed some acts that the Church did not like, such as trying to predict the future.

During the rise of national monarchies in Europe, Gypsies were persecuted, as were other people who did not follow the Catholic faith, such as Jews and Muslims.

During World War II (1939-1945), Gypsies were persecuted and interned in concentration camps by the Nazis.

It is estimated that around 250,000 Roma were killed in this period, especially in Croatia, where almost the entire Roma population was exterminated.

Gypsy culture was the theme of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school at the Rio 2024 carnival. The inspiration for the plot came from Cigana Esmeralda, a character from the stories of Leandro Gomes de Barros.

In the first wing of the school, which is part of the Special Group of the Marquês de Sapucaí, dozens of real gypsies took part in the procession, including some women on stilts. The wing is called “Caravana em Festa”.