Romani mythology

Romani mythology is the myth, folklore, religion, traditions, and legends of the Romani people (also known as Gypsies). The Romani are a nomadic culture which is thought to have originated in India during the Middle Ages. They migrated widely, particularly to Europe. Some legends (particularly from non-Romani peoples) say that certain Romani have passive psychic powers such as empathy, precognition, retrocognition, or psychometry. Other legends include the ability to levitate, travel through astral projection by way of meditation, invoke curses or blessings, conjure or channel spirits, and skill with illusion-casting.

Origins

The Romani originated in India. According to mythology, the country was going through a social restructuring and adopting the strict social hierarchy system of castes. Various groups were not included in these newly formed castes for political and religious reasons, and left at the bottom of the caste system. Three groups made up the majority of the casteless: Thieves, musicians/actors (historically performing arts have had a negative social connotation; take a look at Eastern theatre's history, for example), and magicians whose magic (commonly called gypsycraft) was deemed 'heretical' by the local religion. With life in their once native land now unbearable, these casteless people grouped together, forming bands which migrated originally to the West.

Romani folklore topics

See also

References

  1. ↑ Baldpate at Gypsy Folk Tales, by Francis Hindes Groome, 1899, at sacred-texts.com
  2. ↑ The Creation of the Violin at Gypsy Folk Tales, by Francis Hindes Groome, 1899, at sacred-texts.com
  3. ↑ Gypsy Folk Tales, by Francis Hindes Groome, 1899, at sacred-texts.com
  4. ↑ The Yellow Dragon, Fairrosa Cyber Library for Children
  5. ↑ The Gypsy Fiddle: and Other Tales Told by the Gypsies - by John Hampden, World Publishing Company: New York, 1969
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