Jan Yoors Gypsies

The Gypsies By: Jan Yoors When people think of gypsies they usually think of how they are portrayed in movies and in the media, which is very negative. People are naïve about the ways and the culture of gypsies because there is not a lot of information on them since most of their tribes live in secrecy and away from the Gaje, or non-gypsies. In his introduction, Yoors wrote “This book is written as a protest against oblivion, as a cry of love for this race of strangers who have lived among us for centuries and remained apart.” (Yoors, The Gypsies, pg.5). People think gypsies are scummy people who are thieves and very violent, aggressive, and criminal thugs. Yoors wrote this ethnography to prove those people wrong. When Yoors was twelve years

They would not leave the body alone until it was properly buried. Their close kin would sit by their fire or outside of their tent to ensure that the body would not be touched or harmed. The men of the clan did not eat for a couple of days after the death had occurred, but they did all drink with each other. The other Rom of the band would make sure that the other bands that were traveling around them knew of the death and some of them would join them for the funeral. When one died, the gypsies would perform rituals in the hopes that the dead would forgive them. “When one left for the Nation of the Dead, all emotional ties with the living should be consciously severed over a period of time, including unspoken or half-forgotten jealousies. It was also bad to think of a departed person with bitterness, regret or contempt.” (The Gypsies, Yoors, pg. 234). When the coffin is lowered into the ground, the gypsies throw handfuls of gold and silver on it. As they walk away from the coffin they all say “Akana mukav tut le Devlesa” (I now leave you to God). After one’s death, the band of gypsies all gather together to eat a feast they call the Pomana, or the feast of the dead. The Pomana was repeated after nine days of the death, then again after six weeks, after six months, and on the anniversary of the death. At the Pomana, the close kin of the person who died would decide if they were going to end mourning for this person or if they are going to continue to mourn. However, after a year goes by, the Gypsies are no longer allowed to mourn for this particular person, they believe life must go on. They prepare masses of food for this meal because it is the first meal most of the gypsies have eaten in days. After sitting down for the meal the Rom say “May this food be before you, Tshukura, and in your memory, and may it profit us in good health and in good spirit.” (The Gypsies, Yoors, pg. 235).