Concept in Definition ABC

Through the word Gypsy the one is designated individual from a nomadic people originating in Egypt or India who has retained their own or related physical and cultural traits.

Also called Roma and Gypsies, the gypsy is a community with common cultural traits although with enormous differences between subgroups. Although they are mainly settled in Europe, being the largest ethnic minority in the European Union, are also very present in the rest of the world.

The international gypsy day is celebrated every year on the day April 8 in commemoration of April 8, 1971, the day in which, in the city of London, they instituted their flag and anthem.

One of the distinctive characteristics of the gypsies is their nomadic life, a situation that, for example, has notably influenced the exclusion and maladjustment they have suffered in their intention to wanting to adapt to the culture of the countries where they are found and that of course do not condition their living conditions nomad.

Another differential feature is that gypsies are a such a diversified community, without territory defined and practically without institutions own political and social issues that make incorporation into traditional Western culture even more difficult.

The language they speak is Romani, an Indo-European language; According to a recent study, Roma is related to Singhalese that today is still being talked about in Sri LankaHowever, the majority of today's gypsies speak and communicate with the language of the place they inhabit.

Meanwhile, a strong display of identity among gypsies is the job of the word payo, through which they designate non-gypsy individuals, even many gypsies use this name with a pejorative intention.

On Chile, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, there are important gypsy communities, which continue to maintain their traditions, clothing, among other aspects and therefore tend to suffer, as centuries ago, when they entered Spain, the discrimination by the rest of the community that sees them as different precisely because of those qualities that stand out.

And on the other hand, the word gypsy is used with recurrence in the language current to refer to that flattering individual, who has an important grace to capture the wills of most of the people with whom he interacts.