ROMA PEOPLE

Life in Pictures!

A quick insight on what you need to know

when entering the Roma world!
1. The Roma ethnic group has been living in Europe since
their division from India over 1,000 years ago.
2. The language known as the Roma language is closely
related to the language used in Northern and Central
India.
3. The Roma fashion goes to show and display the wealth
and prosperity of a household. Women would wear
gold bracelets, headscarves and flowers. Men who
have money would invest in new cars and caravans.
Most people in the Roma society are very much poor
and dont have a lot which is why they travel to live.
4. A key value in Roma is to spend time with family
members and reduce the time spent with economic
activities. They spend time dancing and singing.
5. The head of the household is usually the eldest and
most relevant man in the home.
6. The Roma economy is traditionally a self-sufficient
economy. The community depends on trade and
service with outsiders.
7. Roma people tend to live in a segregated life which is a
reason why people look at their culture as a fantasy or
just a speculation because only a few people have had
a up close experience.
8. The Roma ethnic group was the second largest
minority group formed in Slovakia.
9. In the earlier centuries, Europe looked at the Romas
as a criminal group.
10. Roma people believe that parts of your body are pure
and impure. The upper body is free of shame and can
be seen without seeing disrespect. The lower body is
considered unclean and will try and avoid exposing it.
11. The religion is widespread. Roma in Spain are
Catholic, Lutheran in Northern Germany, Orthodox in
Romania and Muslim in areas of the Balkans.
12. People in the ethnic group Roma are almost all the
time seen and known as GYPSIES who travel to tell
fortunes, live on the road and are seen as trouble.
13. Little do many people know, Romas are very skillful
and have good entrepreneur skills without having to
break traditional rules.
14. Roma culture is expressed mainly in the homes which
are kept close and personal thus making it hard to
really understand the Romas.
15. The Roma ethnic group has a more complex meaning
and view on things. People label the Roma group as
bad, but they are just living just as much as anyone
else.

This picture shows the living

conditions of Romas.
Some are blessed with more
wealthy living conditions, but
most are poor and live in
small houses.

A Roma family spending leisurely

time together. They are also
known as gypsies.