From My Chillicothie Romani Familia

Translating the Romaniya
The Romaniya is a system of beliefs and standards that are central to the Roma and a structure that sets the ethics, laws and customs, to include spirituality, and keeps the communities and tribes cohesive and bonded. Though the beliefs of the Roma are varied from family to family and community to tribe the Romaniya collectively brings common ground in maintaining our social and cultural strengths. Added to the fact that Roma do not wish to be part of any community that would diminish or compromise their traditional way of life, the Romaniya gives the Roma its strengths to live in societies without being a part of them. An individual study in the Romaniya is encouraged but here are the highlights of the writings that practice a wide variety of religious expressions such as the worship of human gods, Elvin Gods, Halfling gods and the Tariq’s llah. And then many Roma prefer to carry out their own established families spirituality based on their own context and folk lore. So to say that there is one Roma religion is as foolish to believe someone who says there is one Native American way. Each tribe has its own cosmology and belief structure that holds that Familia, community and tribe together. So the Roma has absorbed religions by those they have come into contact with and the truth is that the formal religions were often supplemented with their own beliefs by a faith in the supernatural and in omens and curses. And though the original body of superstitions again varies from individual to individual, it is still factored in their religious belief structure. prikaza, meaning it has unnatural origin, and there are many supernatural ways that illness can be prevented, cured and even acquired. The use of many numerous herbs called Drab is used in the healing process and there is no set gender on who would be the herbalist or healer of this modality. The herbal library for each Familia is rather extensive and widely traded within the Roma structure. They use both supernatural and intuitive methods in treating and diagnosing illness to which special plants with healing properties are called different in the old language. Even minor colds and fevers are treated as serious prikaza and no separation is given to major or minor illness in the awareness that all damage the soul and are polluted or Marime  influences and without knowledge of the lifestyle of the Roma and how it blends in the customs. So I would like to basically clear up some misconceptions here that have caused decades of separations. Many Roma traditionalists rely on a distinct difference in behavior that is pure or considered polluted. So pollution and rejection are very closely related with one another. But pollution taboo’s are different from Familia, Natsiya and each individual but, never the less, there is class distinctions amongst the Roma depending on how strictly they adhere to distinctions of purity or impurity. marime’ and only done for its healing properties and then jumping into running water to rinse. Mainly this is because of dirty and stagnant water. Their dishes are never rinsed in the same pails as the laundry is done and actually many pails are used and generally marked for its own specific use. The kitchen sink is only used for food and even washing hands in it is considered marime’
There is a lot of stereotype wrapped around what a Roma woman wears. We are used to seeing the Gypsy woman in a scarf wrapped head with long heavy earrings and layered flowing skirts.
The females do adhere to the traditional image concerning the long skirts; this is one of comfort and also for protection against sexual advances. And it is believed in many communities that loose fitting clothing is better for the skin and personal hygiene compared to tight fitting clothing of the westerners, and of course a flower in her hair. And actually this image does have its own truth. The Romaniya does address appropriate dress for both Roma males and females. And within societies that produces certain merime’. These skirts are usually of bright colors and of many layers. Except for different patterns and colors the traditional woman’s dress does not vary much. The one distinctive apparel difference of women in their dress attire is  seen in the married and unwed women. The women who are married wrap there head in a Diklo, or head scarf when outside of the home. The hair is most commonly long and either braided or pulled up in a bun depending on the comfort level of the individual Coins. This is at times even worn in their hair and sewn in their clothing or anklets and bracelets and anklets.
Concerning Religion, the Roma cannot be said to have a religion of its own. Many religions were absorbed throughout the migrations into our own beliefs and religion has since become a very eclectic expression. Common is to find Familia with in the Natsiya
An illness also takes on a religious structure to the Roma. And it is a very impressive one. The Roma believe that all illness is an unnatural condition with the fact to many that illness is an outer symptom that shows the spiritual nature of the individual. Illness is called
The main strength that binds the Roma together cohesively in their many religious views and spirituality is that the Roma are able, by culture, lifestyle and folklore, to see each soul as a religious entity with its own spirituality and that each soul has something to make the other more full or complete. So the Roma doesn’t judge the religion of others but uses what they can from each religion and with a breath of kindness blows the rest away.
Many have written there ideologies on Roma taboos and a lot of it have been colored by how they want to represent their individual views on this subject. But most of the college material was written by their own
Most of the basic marime’ concepts deal with personal hygiene and eating of food. One seen in most Roma communities is of the washing and drawing of their water. Many traditionalists only wash with running water. And soaking in a tub or pool of water is a medicinal or therapeutic remedy of a last resort.
As for drawing water from streams also here the procedures are distinctively clear do to cross contaminates. The water furthest up stream is considered more pure and used only for drinking and cooking. As they work their way downstream the next area of water collecting is for washing dishes and cleaning the body. The next area down steam is used for washing and nourishing farm animals and pets and for hand carrying of water for the gardens. And the furthest down is appropriate for washing clothes.
There is a system used also for merime’ that is considered against Roma law and not every violation is taken to the Kriss. Usually the Rom Baro handles infractions and violations to the Romapen within his own community for within the boundaries of the Kriss the defendant can face anything between retribution, restitution or even banishment from the Natsiya.
Roma women are more likely to wear their own personal jewelry on them not only for the beauty but also for security. Banks and institutions are usually scorned upon and not trusted so wearing the jewelry is safer than keeping it in a box. Traditionalists that do have acquired wealth will convert it into jewelry and gold coins called Bilko
As for men there is no certain dress per se but some characteristics do apply. In general the head is considered the focal point so many Roma men draw attention to it by wearing large hats moustaches or both. For festivals and special occasions usually a suit of bright colors is worn and this suit is of fine quality and material. They usually only have one suit and one change of clothes at a time and they are worn until ragged. A scarf is worn around the neck for special occasions and in some Roma communities a sash is worn around a loose fitting shirt and its color representation marks his leadership in the Natsiya.
And even many times the males dress blends in with the custom lifestyles,
The Romaniya also is quite concise concerning food and what it considers healthy to eat
Generally the mornings start off with a strong tea and usually using
Ceremonial events are a special time for the Familia and large meals and plenty of drink is prepared and labored over. Mainly the meat is roasted outside over coals or hot stones. Pork, chicken or fowl is the usual here and it is heavily seasoned with whole cloves of garlic pushed in the meat as it cooks in its own juices and released.
The Romaniya is very concise on cruelty to animals and children and even the killing of animals is reflected in their food. Only animals that are considered food are eaten. The main marime’ of food is that never a horse to be eaten. This too is deep rooted in the nomadic lifestyle and horses were too important to be used as food as some customs do.
Dogs and cats also are considered unclean and polluted to the Roma. This is because of their unclean living habits. The concern here is that their unclean licking in the external world will
The Roma are very suspicious about gage societies and this is found predominately in the Romaniya on how to be Romapen,
Now there are activists in the Roma communities that do see the gains of the non – Roma and even see how these gains can help strengthen their own lives and tradition. They ask for respect as human beings, equal rights in the job industries, healing discrimination and persecutions, and all of their work is admirable with their own strengths and weaknesses. The first step is education. And I feel the writing of this book has done well with that. But before this happens the Natsiya must also get out of fears of assimilation.
Food is harvested during all seasons. So, mainly the Roma diet consisted of wild fruits, berries, leafy vegetation, small mammals and aquatic life such as fish and mollusk. As the Roma settled in other societies their diet has also has reflected this. Morning tea that would balance any individual illness in the community. In the United States this expression is likely to be coffee or healing tea heavily sweetened with honey. Tea is a staple to the Familia and cups make be taken several times throughout the day. In general there is no lunch but a supper is served at sunset and cooked throughout the day so if anyone is hungry they can have a small meal until supper is served. The basic dinner will be a thick vegetable soup or stew with some meat in it. The vegetables are of whatever is available and will be a mixture of greens and vegetables. Potatoes, rice and or pasta is put in the dinner stew to give it heartiness. If meat is served separately it is usually broiled or cooked on a spit. Rabbit, squirrel, deer and small game are usually the choice of the meat and turkey when available is commonly eaten. Again, this is a reflection also of the nomadic tradition the Roma share. Garlic is widely used in many dishes because of its medicinal and Magickal properties. Water or wine is served with the dinner meal. Now dogs make the inner self impure and contaminated if induced into the body. Cats even are a death omen to many Familia and if they are allowed inside a purifying ceremony is done. Dogs however are at times allowed inside because of their protection qualities. Familiars are accepted in the home but even owls and cats still are frowned upon. Owls, like many other non Roma tribes, are considered bringers of death and considered bad luck. Owls then are never pets or used for food. And not Romapen, {the act of living traditional Roma lifestyles} these fears become much warranted.
Now I am aware we will have to heal a very long cycle of hostility and fear based on misunderstandings towards the Roma. Unfortunately no book can heal a hateful heart. And Roma parents will need to heal their fear of the non – Roma corrupting their family, and that contact with our lifestyle and social outlook does foster separations. And this separation does place the Roma at a severe disadvantage. But because of its effects on them they have chosen to be apart. In the United States we are slowly trying to coexist in the general population without compromising our own identity. But we still refuse to adapt to any one of these if they compromise our traditional basic beliefs and strongly feel that integration will lead to assimilation and the breakup of our strong tradition. The end result would be the complete disappearance of our culture. The only compromise is that the Roma are willing to adapt to its surrounding societies, but will pull away quickly if they impose restrictions of freedom to be who we are.
In Light
Raven Dolick / Chovihano