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Revision as of 19:38, 16 May 2007 by Desiphral (talk | contribs) (cat up)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Roma (Gypsy) mythology is the myth, folklore, religion, traditions, and legends of the Roma people. The Gypsies, who call themselves Rom or Romany, are a nomadic culture which originated in India during the Middle Ages. They migrated widely, particularly to Europe. Some legends (particularly from non-Roma peoples) say that certain gypsies are said to 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/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 (RL fact time, historically performing arts have had a negative social conotation... take a look at eastern theatre's history, for example...), and magicians whose magic 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. Over many many years, their language and culture developed into something entirely foreign from their roots, and they were truly gypsies, or the Romani as they call themselves.
Roma myth topics include the following:
- Arnold Paole
- Baldpate
- Beng
- Butyakengo
- Devla
- Dhampir
- Đurđevdan
- fortune teller
- Gitto Bach
- Jack and His Golden Snuff-Box
- The Little Bull-Calf
- Moshto
- Mullo
- Ratcatcher
- Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
- Saint Sarah
- Suyolak
- tarot
- The King of England and his Three Sons
- Psychic
- Palmistry
- Urmen
- Astrology
- Astronomy
- Spirit Invocation
- Seance
- divination
- curse
Also See
- Dance in mythology and religion
- Gypsy Lore Society
- The Red King and the Witch: Gypsy Folk and Fairy Tales