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During World War II, roughly 400,000 Gypsies alongside Jews, homosexuals and other minorities were murdered by the Nazis. Some were rounded up and shot in their own villages, while others were shipped off to concentration camps.
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Background
Because recorded history of the Rroma prior to their first documented appearances in Europe in the early 15th century is non-existent, there has been much debate as to their origins and early migration.
Based on linguistic evidence (the similarity of the Rromani language to Hindi, Panjabi, and related languages of Northern India) and anthropological evidence, there is now a clear consensus of opinion that the modern day Rroma of the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the Americas originated in Northwestern India. There is also a general consensus regarding the approximate timing of their emigration, in the 11th century.
Rromanies endured centuries of persecution, starting with their enslavement in Eastern Europe until the 1800s and reaching a peak during World War II in the Porajmos, the genocide perpetrated by the Nazis during the Holocaust. More recently, this people experienced assimilation schemes and restrictions on cultural freedom.
For example, in Czech Republic and Slovakia they were labeled a "socially degraded stratum" and a policy to decrease their numbers was implemented illegally or with improper motivation.
Rromanipen - culture
The Rromani culture has always preserved its rules orally and enriched itself by borrowing and adapting the traditions of the countries they have enountered in their travels. These customs, which play a paramount guidance role in a Rroma's life, constitute the rromanipen - the Rroma identity.
Most Rroma believe in God, be they Muslim or Christian, despite their apparent lifestyle. Some pagan beliefs have also taken considerable grounds in their culture, such as certain formula words, cliches that seem to guide them throughout their thinking. Their judgement is always dualistic, placing them in a dichotomy between good (Del, Devel, God) and evil (Beng). They belive in the power of words that protect them from 'the evil eye' jakhalimos, as well as in curses and spells.
One important aspect in a Rroma's life is his ritual cleanness, which may get altered if certain unwritten rules are broken. For example, washing men and women clothes together or touching a dog may be considered improper and can result in temporary expulsion from communal dinners and other group rituals. Also, men are not allowed to touch a girl's skirt when she has her menstruation or touch a young girl's dolls. Similarly, a woman is not allowed to touch the tools men have worked with, otherwise the work becomes unclean.
Rroma Trades
Because of their nomadic lifestyle, Rroma usually develop skills and occupations suitable for a life on the road. The practices represent a very important aspect of one's identity who becomes unclean or Gadje (non-Rroma) if he doesn't work, and they are transmitted further through generations on a paternal line.
The traditional trades practiced within Rroma groups determine their identities, although they usually intertwine. Women go for fortune telling or begging, while metal work divided into copper and blacksmiths, horse-dealing, music as a trade (not to be mistaken for Rroma music) and wood are among the most common man jobs in the old fashioned communities. Modern families who managed to break through ethnic barriers have taken positions in various fields in the work force, from vocational to intellectual choices.
Rroma music
Music is a very important aspect in the Rroma community. It defines their identity, grouping them in a community called 'lautari'. The lautari form a band called 'taraf'.
The gypsy music is very complex and it can't be traced precisely in time or space because of its originators' nomadic lifestyle. In Romania it is usually played at weddings or funerals due to its melancholic harmonies and highly emotional lyrics. The lautari drew inspiration from all the musics they had contact with: the pastoral music of Romania, the Byzantine music played in the church, as well as foreign music, most notably Turkish, but also Russian and Western European. While the lautari drew inspiration from the local music, they also influenced the Romanian folk music.
Improvisation is an important part of the lutreasc music. Each time a lutar plays a melody he re-interprets it. For this reason the lutreasc music has been compared to Jazz music. A lutar from the Damian Draghici band who also played Jazz, said that the lautreasca music is a kind of Jazz. (Damian Draghici is a virtuoso musician particularly associated with the Romanian Pan pipes and is possibly the most noted exponent of his particular instrument in the world, has focused new international attention on the ancient Romanian pan flute) .
Instruments often played by lautari
* pan flut(called "muscal" then "nai" in Romanian) - It probably arrived with the Turks (both "muscal" and "nai" are words of Turkish origin). One of the primary instruments of old lautari, it is seldom used today.
* violin - Always popular among lutari.
* contra violin
* double bass - Though often present in the taraf, the bass didn't received much attention from the lautari, because it didn't allow for "mrunt" (virtuosic) playing.
* cobza/luta - An instrument similar with the lute, but probably not directly related. It is either a direct descendant of the oud, brought by Romani musicians, or it is derived from the Ukrainian kobza . Like the kobza, it has a short neck and is used primary for rhythmic accompaniment, but, like the oud, it has no frets. Today it is virtually extinct.
* cimbalom (called "ambal" in Romanian) - It replaced the cobza/luta, having more capabilities.
* accordion - Very popular in the modern lautareasca music.
* clarinet - Used especially in southern urban lutareasc music.
* tárogató ("taragot" in Romanian) - Used especially in Banat , but it is slowly replaced by the saxophone.
* brass instrument- An Austrian influence, used especially in Moldavia.
Famous bands and musicians
