Our Gypsy Traditions and Customs
Gypsy Traditions and Customs
There are many thousands of so called ‘Travellers’ dotted around Europe and never a day goes by without some attention grabbing headline in the media about some sort of incident or other regarding them.
This article is only concerning the ‘Romany Gypsy’ and their Traditions and Customs. By the way, next time you see traveller’s caravans parked surrounded by a mountain of junk and rubbish you can rest assured they are NOT ‘Romany Gypsies. 
Almost all Romany folk are now settled in a house or bungalow, this is partly because the work situation has changed for the Romany families together with changes in the law making it illegal in England to ‘Camp on the Highway however none of this has prevented at least some of us keeping many our cultural beliefs and traditions.
Mysterious Powers
I’m often asked how is that Gypsies seem to have these mysterious powers, well to understand this you really need to know how my ancestors lived in the past. They roamed free and were always very close to nature, they hunted for food long after other folk went to the butchers. They foraged the hedgerows for fruits and nuts, etc. And this made them very observant, discovering natures cures for various ailments using leaves, Barks and roots from leafy lanes. This is fact not a myth, these findings were passed down the generations from adult to child.
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- Herbal Cures
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- Crystal Skrying
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- Palmistry
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- Gypsy Card Reading
Varying Traditions
There are many diverse beliefs and rituals amongst the Gypsy communities, depending where they spent most of their time, cultures also differ from one small area to another such the North of England or the South. However, there are two events in a Gypsies life that are very important in almost all Gypsy tribes, these are Birth & Death. In days gone by Gypsies would travel around in a large extended family group, if a man married a girl from another group, then she would join the man´s group. Also, a little known fact, Gypsy children (Chavvies) never took the Father´s name, always the Mother´s. This caused no end of problems when dealing with anyone in authority, especially the police, was always assumed they were giving false information.
The family line is very important and marrying young was quite common, not so nowadays though. Gypsy wedding can be a very grand affair costing quite a lot of money. (Please note: recent T.V. Documentaries like ´My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding) are not a typical example, they are the products of a producer with a very fertile imagination and are all arranged and scripted by the Television companies.
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- Leon & Ileena 1937
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- Uncle Leon and his Bride after the wedding
So when a new baby comes along it´s a time for another big celebration, as this marks the growth of the family line which is of great importance to the whole family. Unfortunately, my family will be very disappointed with me, as my Wife and I have no children to keep the line going.
As Gypsies, we also have some very high standards of hygiene and cleanliness too, we always had to have separate bowls for washing vegetables, washing dishes and washing clothes, even in the limited space we had in the wagon.
Another thing not many people know is that Gypsy folk don´t like being called by their first name, in fact most are reluctant to give a non-Gypsy their real name and this has nothing to do with giving false information, this superstition is thought to be so that the other person could not curse you or wish you harm because if they only knew your family nothing could be directed to you personally.
FUNERALS/DEATH
The Romany word for unclean is ´Mokadi´ and if someone died no Gypsy was allowed to touch them for fear the caught something that may have contributed to the death. It’s believed this is a leftover from the middle ages when such things as the black death and the like were raging and the fear was anyone who touched the body could be contaminated. This fear also extends to the burning of the deceased person’s caravan too. I remember as a boy, one of our family died and I was sent to the village to find an undertaker, he then sent two women back with me and they washed and prepared the body ready for burial. 
Many Gypsies believe we are constantly surrounded by spirits of both Good and Bad, and put great store into amulets, charms and spells to keep them safe.
The one good things about our culture is, there is never any arguing or fighting over the property of the deceased person. Many non/Gypsy folk would do well to adopt this tradition.
Why Gypsies?
As nomadic people, originating from India (we know this because our Romany language is peppered with words and phrases from the Hindi and Urdu) their travels took them through Egypt where they stayed for many years, eventually, on their arrival in England around the 1400´s they became known as the Egypties which became Gypsies. I mention this because many of our customs can be identified as being from various places visited by the nomads in those early days of migration. One such tradition is to place personal belongings in the coffin with the deceased. Things that may be required either on the way or on arrival in the after-life. It’s believed this tradition dates back to the time spent in Egypt where this was the usual custom at the time.
Please leave any comments below, Thank You
Until next time …………………………….
Have good week, Kooshti Bok & Kooshti Santi (Good Luck & Good Health
Your Friend Paul Petulengro
hello Mr Petulengro,
I have been researching the Plumb Booth Smith of mainly Nottingham.
A notorious Nathan Plumb famis colourful. These are Irish clan not Romani (I don’t think?)
As I’ve expanded the links I came across Gypsy kings and I think Absalon Smith ties in somewhere.
MY QUESTION IS
I was wondering if you have ever heard of a gypsy tradition of covering
A grave with oyster shells?
I ask as a friends grandmother ‘Selina’ one off several had this happen and the family have no clue as to who did this?
My first thought was a gypsy line or a seafarers tradition hence why I did a little research.
This lady had long jet black hair dark eyes and ruddy complexion.
I was correct she does link a travelling background.
Currently looking for the 7th daughter of the 7th daughter …
Hearsay says my mother was one and TRUELY had the gift… she scared me as a child…full of superstitions. Looked like a Romani or as I thought an American red indian…OH JUST THOUGHT… MUM USED TO SPEAK A STRANGE LANGUAGE IN HER SLEEP… I WONDER IF ITS GYPSY DIALECT?..no clue where to start there.
I digress.
It’s the tradition of the shells that intrigues myself and the family.
Stealing your words
KOOSHI BOK & KOOSHTI SANTE
It is such a pity that Romanee heritage was not documented due to there being no written language and lack of education. The passing down of information by word of mouth throughout the many generations has led to the hotch potch of information that we believe to know now. I have recorded my family tree to the best of my ability by connecting what I did know to other gipsy families who have done something similar by compiling hearsay from far and wide creating our story. It is peppered here and there with factual information from some records that have established as facts. Mainly burial records or cemetary records. Some early birth records to be found in church records of baptisms of a child and also latterly, marriage records. My own great grand parents on my mother’s side got married to register the fact that they had proof of being turned 70 years of age, qualifying then for old age pension when first introduced1909. Joseph Redworth gorger married Kate Boswell Romanee 1945 residence Caravan Plumstead Marshes. Often being accused of being a didicaire, I wonder how anyone over 10 centuries can truly declare themselves as not being of mixed origins. There is no proof.
As an indirect descendant of the Kakki Boswell line, my understanding of Romanee heritage is that from the kale perspective. The Welsh & Romaniacle tribes were mainly Christians. The deceased were interred in a local cemetary to where they died. Again traditionally, the Romanee gipsy was born raised in make shift tents that they called benders because of the way they were constructed. It was not until the mid 1800s that the the first wagons were built in Iran which were called Vardos, a name derived from the Iranian word Vurdon. Only the wealthiest gypsies could have this type of four wheeled accommodation built specifically for themselves. The lesser well off gipsies aquired canvase or bow top wagons which they referred to as their Vans. Because of the superstitions surrounding the ethnic Romanee population ANY Person dying in that Wagon could be carrying a disease therefor it and theire posessions were burnt. It is also worth noting it was illegal to burn the body in the wagon.
Hi Cherry,
Yes it’s a well known Gypsy superstition about wild birds indoors. Although my Dad often had linnets or gold finches, they were always kept outside and never allowed in the vardo. As with all superstitions, if you believe in them enough they can become self fulfilling.
Hello Paul,
I keep having a storm cock fly into me bedroom . It’s been four consecutive nights now , and I remember me man saying it was bad luck , I think it meant a death in the family ? She was a direct descendant of Romany travellers and my great granny had the sight , me dad was a traveller too . Can you help me please ? I’m trashed now
Hi David,
I was born in a horse wagon and travelled all my youth the length and breadth of the UK I can assure I’ve never heard of Gypsies having a communal meal or parking their waggons in circle. Also, I’ve never known travellers cook a goulash either, so I’m not sure where your info has come from. If you’re writing about the Rom in the US then I suggest you contact some real ones there. Sorry I can’t be more help.
Hi Paul…
I’m writing a 6-part TV mini-series (based on a true story). It opens in Georgia, USA in 1909 when our young, injured black hero is rescued by a travelling company of Romany Gypsies. This is a based on fact. But there isn’t much background on their customs, except his first meal was goulash!
So I have his being introduced to the company at their communal meal outside in the circle of wagons — is the a traditional greeting that would be given to a stranger being welcomed to break bread?
any information gratefully received — or sources you can suggest?
DJ
Hi Sandra,
I have heard of this before but it’s not a Gypsy tradition I was ever aware of.
My friend attended his Mothers funeral, he and the family poured drink onto the coffin at the graveyard, is this a Gypsy Tradition. Thankyou
Hi John,
Nice to hear from you. Unfortunately, no general records as far as I know, because we lived in horse wagons (Vardos) travel was limited to relatively small areas and we all knew each other in our own area and the signals, which were either stones, twigs or chalk were decide on locally. Also, my Granny and Mother left different signs than my Grandfather and Father, simply because the women were hawking goods and fortune telling and the men were looking for manual type work. Are you from Gypsy stock John?
Kushti Bok & Kushti Sante.
As a boy I was taught in Scotland various stone patterns to leave outside the houses of people to either avoid or who would give odd jobs or things if asked. Is there any records of this anywhere?
Hi Sandra, thanks for your comment. It doesn’t have any particular name, just yogging the vardo (Burning the wagon). The custom originally comes from India (Gypsy origin) where they actually burn the body and belongings of the deceased. But as the law does not permit that in the UK, just the belongings are burned. I hope this helps, but please get back to me if you have more questions.
Kooshti Bok & Kooshti Sante (Good Luck Good Health)
What is the name the custom practiced by Romani peoples in England, in which the caravan of a dead elder is burned?