More about the Romani Traditions & Social Structure

SOCIAL STRUCTURE (example from original social structure from among the Roma in Slovakia):

• Ethnicity/Nation: Roma
• Tribe: Servika/Kherutna/Slovačika Roma (I'll later refer to this tribe as 'Servika Roma' only, as it is oldest name of this tribe)
• Clan: Clans within a tribe, very similar to Indian Gotra
• Caste (we don't use this word): there are often various castes within a tribe, in India it is known as a Jāti. The castes among the Roma are divided into the Ritually Clean and Ritually Unclean castes.

NOTE: Social structure within other Romani tribes (including the tribes which live in other countries than Slovakia) looks little bit differently, as often other tribes are more like castes and have elevated importance of clans. For example the Lovári tribe who belong to the Vlax Roma super-tribe has a lot clans but no castes as they are a caste themselves, these clans have various level of importance and prestige. The Lovári are the Traders who traditionally were trading Horse (Ló in Hungarian means a Horse), currently they Trade Cars often. Among the Vlax Roma exist also tribes which are also same as castes but have no clans at all, for example the Ciurari tribe (Ciurar is a Romanian word for Sieves) are a tribe which at same time is a caste of Sieve-Makers.

Also, among the Roma exists own version of the Nobility that includes:

• Kings
• Barons/Grófs
• Vajda

The Kings and Barons/Grófs often overlap. Also, often one king doesn't rule over other tribes, in fact a king doesn't rule even over entire tribe.

Role of Vajda is (was) among the Servika Roma as a authority similar to the one of the Krisake Roma (Romani Kris is similar to the Panchayaat in India, but among the Servika Roma Romani Kris doesn't exist anymore).

Barons or Grófók often rule over own Clans, some over own Village only.

Vajda, Barons and Grófs often wear normal clothes, often European full suits and some more traditional wear "Gypsy Clothes".

The Kings often wear clothes similar to what were wearing European Kings in the Medieval Era, as well they wear the Crown, Sceptre and Stavroforos Sphaira.

ROMANI KRIS (Romani Court):

The Romani Kris is similar to the Panchayaat in India.

Krisake Roma (members of the Romani Kris) often co-work with the Barons and Kings.

The Romani Kris is caring about Traditions of the Roma, as well to Settle the Problems within a Community.

Krisake Roma are the Judges and often debate about the particular Problem within the Tribe (or a Community) of the Roma who see them as a Authority, they after reaching some agreement  deliver a Verdict.

The Verdict may be a financial penalty (a fine) or even expulsion from the Tribe. After the expulsion one became Outcasted.

As I mentioned before, among the Servika Roma, the Romani Kris institution was abandoned a long time ago. Its place took the Vajda, who was a Authority over various communities of the Servika Roma and over the Grófs. But Vajda never claimed to be a King.

SOME TRADITIONS (which reflect believes that I didn't mentioned in an article about the believes):

• GOLD: The Gold (Somnakai/Sonika/Sovna/Sovnakai) is a huge part of the Tradition among many Romani tribes. The Roma believe in a magical force of Gold and wear it as Protection from Evil Forces. Of course other role of Gold is to show Power & Wealth. Among some tribes it´s a future Husband's duty to make to his Wife-to-be golden tooth.

From Gold are made thick Necklaces worn by the Lovári men, as well thick Rings worn by both men and women among various tribes. And of course also the Earrings, which shape and reason vary among women & men, as women often wear big (often thin) Earrings and men wear a lot smaller but often thick Earrings.

So why do Roma men wear Earrings (unfortunately to a lesser extent today)?

On photo is an Soviet actor from Moldova, Vasily Vasiliyev. He belongs to the Baron family.

There are several reasons, one is that it confirms masculinity, another is that it shows status (the bigger the earring, the higher the status in the Romani society - among the Romani barons, earrings were very big). Probably both reasons are true.

In the Indian society the Earring worn by the men have various meanings (which often overlap with the Romani viewpoint). Indian men wear the Earrings as a symbol of courage and strength, as well as a symbol of devotion to the deities and as a protection against negative forces.

I will also add that we say earrings "e Čhen", in the plural "Čheňa", in Nepali, Maithili and some dialects of Hindi it is "jhumka" ("Jh" changed to "Čh" in Romani, similar to the word for language "Jhibh" to "Čhib"). ("Čh "read as "Chh" and "Ňa" read as "Nya")

• DECENT DRESSING CODES (in both, Men & Women): In among Conservative (Traditional) Roma groups you can find only women who wear the Scarf (Khosno) and long Skirts (Coxa), which are reaching the Ankles or even go under the Ankles. Also, the men always wear the Trousers which are at least covering the legs to under the knees, if no whole legs till ankles and often a hat on the head. In more modern Roma groups you can still see women wearing long Skirts or some other feminine Dress and men wearing long Boxers (if no Trousers or Sweatpants).

Women and girls wearing Traditional Romani Women's Clothing which includes Scarf & Skirt.

Traditional male clothing of the Roma Blacksmiths in Hungary in 19th Century.

Traditional Roma living in a tent in area of city Sibiu, Romania in 1936.

Two old photos from Russia. The photo on the left might be from 1960´s and the one on the right from 1900´s.

You may also see women with naked belly, yet this isn't indicative of indecency; rather, it's a facet of the original Indian culture, of which Romani culture is an integral part.

Photos from Bulgaria.

• LONG HAIR (among Women): It is a part of the Culture and indicates traditional viewpoint of the woman, Women with long hair are seen as decent who are indicating their honour and showing honour of their families. If a woman does something against tradition and honour, her hair is cut by the family. Traditionally the Kalderaš women braid their hair.

Kalderaš from Russia in 1890´s.

Modern-day photos from Russia.

NOTE: Among some Roma tribes also men wore a long hair and long beards. They were not cutting it.

• MOUSTACHE or sometimes FULL-BEARD: Among the men Moustache used to show masculinity and might. Same goes for Full-Beard. Moustache tradition probably comes from India.