by Roland McShane

Created on: August 07, 2008   Last Updated: September 08, 2008

There are several myths about the origin of the Romany people, commonly but mistakenly called gypsies. The factual truth is that the Roma people can be traced linguistically to modern-day northern India, Pakistan area. For unknown reasons, they began to migrate and have settled throughout the world. First arriving in Europe in about the fourteenth century, these darker skinned people were immediately viewed with suspicion. Europe was enveloped in superstition, darkness, and fear of invasion from the Islamic forces from the Mideast.

One set of myths related to the Roma is about from which country they originate. Thanks to this misconception, the term 'gypsy' was applied to the Roma people. They were called 'gypsy' because they were thought to be from Egypt. Another relates to Romania. Though there are many Roma in Romania, which makes sense because it is the route of crossing into Europe for the Roma, the name Roma and Romania are not related. Romania gets its name from its history as a colony of Rome. Linguistically Romani (the language of the Roma people) and Romanian (the language of the Romanian people) are not related. Romanian is much closer to Italian than any other language in Central or Eastern Europe. Rom, sometimes spelled with the double r as Rrom, is the word for 'man' or 'person' in the Roma language. The 'a' ending makes it plural.

Another set of myths about the Roma people are related to their relationship with the Jews. Some would contend that the Roma were enslaved along side of the Jewish people, as recorded in the Torah (also the Christian Old Testament). Though a romantic sentiment, this cannot be historically proven. Roma myth also appears at the crucifixion of Jesus. The two version of the myth are both related to the nails used. One version indicates that there were originally four nails used in crucifixion, which can be seen in early artistic representations. Commonly known as thieves, a Rom stole one of the nails to be used in the crucifixion, thereby lessening the pain of Jesus. As a reward for this foul deed, the Roma were forever forgiven for their thievery! The second version says that a Rom was the blacksmith responsible for making the nails used. Metal working of every sort has been a traditional craft in some Roma cultures. Because the Rom was responsible for adding to the pain of Jesus, the Roma people were forever cursed by not having a land to call their own, bread to feed their children, or a decent home to live in.

The Roma people have forever been a mysterious and misunderstood people. As a target of extermination by the Nazis during World War Two, in some places in Europe, ninety percent of the Roma populations were decimated in Nazi death camps. Discrimination and violent opposition to the Roma continues to this day. As recently as the summer of 2008 when Italian officials advocated the systematic registration of all the Roma in their country, an eerie reminder of the horrors of the Second World War, the Roma have born the brunt of the blame for the social ills of Europe.

As a people the Roma have a rich history filled with music, with travels, and with myths. Not every Rom is a musician; not every one a thief; not all travel in wagons or work in carnivals; and not every myth is true. However, their close family bonds, their ability to survive in the face of constant hatred while living, literally, on the edges of civilization, and their resourcefulness in the midst of appalling poverty mean the Roma people have a lot to teach the majority populations around them.

Learn more about this author, Roland McShane.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.