Roma culture in Europe
Roma and Sinti, sometimes called Gypsies, are the largest ethnic minority in Europe, at an estimated population between 1 and 20 million. They don't have their own country but live in a diaspora all over Europe and beyond.
Since one of the primary reasons for travel for some is to experience different cultures, this article aims at collecting pointers to places where Roma can be met and their culture can be experienced first-hand.
There are many ethnic groups in Europe with lifestyle similar to Roma, such as the Irish Travellers and the Jenish people of Germany.
UnderstandThe Romani people are believed to have been descended from immigrants from what is today northern India. The name "gypsy" comes from the formerly widely-held misconception that they originated from Egypt.
RegionsAll over Europe, but mainly in the Balkans, in the south of Spain and South of France.
CountriesThe Finnish Roma minority, of 10,000–15,000 people, is recognised in the constitution and their culture gets governmental support; there is still quite some prejudice against them.
SeeThe Roma are among the forgotten victims of the Holocaust during World War II. See Holocaust remembrance for a guide to concentration camps, museums and other relevant sites.
DoCentral and Eastern Europe: Romani violinists are particularly famous for their virtuosity.
Learn
Celebrations
RespectThough it is widely used, especially among non-Romani, the word "Gypsy" is often considered offensive because of its associations with negative stereotypes and inaccurate perceptions of Romani people.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Roma culture in Europe" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0