ABSTRACT
Gypsies have, throughout modern history, been synonymous in many peoples’ minds with colorfully painted caravans, exotic music and dance, trained animals, fortune-telling, and perhaps an enviably free “life on the road,” They have also been the ultimate “Other,” maintaining their own language, customs, values, social norms, and ethnic identity in virtually every setting in which they have found themselves, and have all too commonly been seen as dishonest, immoral, criminal, and as a threat to society and “decent folk.” As the “Other” in every society in which they live, they have often suffered, and continue to experience, persecution and oppression. Although there are elements of truth in the popular characterizations and stereotypes of Gypsies, there are also serious distortions that mask the complexity and diversity of a fascinating and resilient people. In this chapter, an overview of the history and complexity of the Gypsy world is presented, its core cultural values explored, and the way in which children in the community are raised and educated is discussed.
