Faith and religion Romani society and culture

1 faith , religion

1.1 hinduism
1.2 deities , saints
1.3 ceremonies , practices
1.4 balkans
1.5 other regions
1.6 evangelicalism

faith , religion

the cult of saint sarah in shrine of saintes-maries-de-la-mer, southern france devotion associated catholic romanies.


hinduism

while in india, romani people followed hindu religion. theory supported romani word cross , trushul, word describes shiva s trident (trishul). hindu foundation means concept of kuntari, universal balance, central people s spirituality. kuntari means things belong in universe according natural place. however, animals such flightless hen , frogs, animal ability negotiate land , water, considered out of balance , are, therefore, inherently unlucky. consequently, romani avoid hens eggs , frogs. romani believe in notion of pollution , whereby human body vulnerable pollution following breaking of taboos—pollution leads person becoming out of balance, frog , hen.

if such taboos broken, restoration of 1 s purity can attained through trial overseen tribunal of romani elders. tribunal determines whether person guilty or innocent and, in case of former, subject of trial must complete period of isolation purpose of eventual reinstatement (in particularly severe cases of pollution, permanent estrangement has occurred, apparently rare in modern era). such pollution taboos not apply until romani has undergone puberty.

christianity , islam have been adopted romanis.

deities , saints

blessed ceferino giménez malla considered patron saint of romani people in roman catholicism. saint sarah, or kali sara, has been revered patron saint in same manner blessed ceferino giménez malla, transition occurred in 21st century, whereby kali sara understood indian deity brought refugee ancestors of romani people, thereby removing christian association. saint sarah progressively being considered romani goddess, protectress of roma , indisputable link mother india .

ceremonies , practices

romanies adopt dominant religion of host country if ceremony associated formal religious institution necessary, such baptism or funeral (their particular belief systems , indigenous religion , worship remain preserved regardless of such adoption processes). romani continue practice shaktism , practice origins in india, whereby female consort required worship of god. adherence practice means romani worship christian god, prayer conducted through virgin mary, or mother, saint anne. shaktism continues on 1,000 years after people s separation india.

besides romani elders, serve spiritual leaders, priests, churches, or bibles not exist among romanies. exception pentecostal roma.

balkans

for romani communities have resided in balkans centuries, referred turkish gypsies , following histories apply religious beliefs:

bulgaria: in northwestern bulgaria , sofia , kyustendil, islam has been dominant religion; however, in independent bulgarian state, major conversion eastern orthodox christianity has occurred. in southwestern bulgaria (pirin macedonia), islam dominant religion, smaller section of population, declaring turks , continuing mix ethnicity islam.
romania: approximately 85% of romanian romani orthodox christians.
greece: descendants of groups, such sepečides or sevljara, kalpazaja, filipidži , others, living in athens, thessaloniki, central greece , aegean macedonia orthodox christians, islamic beliefs held minority of population. following peace treaty of lausanne of 1923, many muslims resettled turkey, in consequent population exchange between turkey , greece.
albania: albania s romani people muslims.
macedonia: majority of romani people believe in islam.
serbia: romani people in serbia orthodox; in disputed territory of kosovo vast majority of romani population muslim.
bosnia, montenegro , herzegovina: islam dominant religion.
croatia: following world war ii, large number of muslim romani relocated croatia (the majority moved kosovo).

in balkans, romanies of macedonia , southern serbia, including disputed territory of kosovo, have been particularly active in islamic mystical brotherhoods (sufism)—muslim roma immigrants western europe , america have brought these traditions them.

other regions

ukraine , russia contain romani muslim populations, families of balkans migrants continue live there. descendants ancestors settled on crimean peninsula during 17th , 18th centuries, descendants migrated ukraine, southern russia , povolzhie (along volga river). formally, islam religion these communities align with, , people recognized staunch preservation of romani language , identity.

most eastern european romanies roman catholic, orthodox christian, or muslim. in western europe , united states roman catholic or protestant. in southern spain, many romani pentecostal), small minority has emerged in contemporary times. in egypt, romanis split christian , muslim populations. countless years, dance has been considered religious procedure egyptian romanies. in turkey, romani people overwhelmingly muslim, while majority of romani in latin america have maintained european religions, following orthodox christianity.

evangelicalism

since world war ii, growing number of romanis have embraced evangelical movements. first time, romanies became ministers , created own, autonomous churches , missionary organizations. in countries, majority of romani belong romani churches. unexpected change has contributed better image of romanis in society. work perform seen more legitimate, , have begun obtain legal permits commercial activities.

evangelical romani churches exist in every country romanis settled. movement particularly strong in france , spain; there more 1,000 romani churches (known filadelfia or el culto) in spain, 100 in madrid alone. in germany, numerous group of polish romanis, main church in mannheim. other important , numerous romani assemblies in los angeles, houston, buenos aires, , mexico.