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This is an accepted version of this page This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 6 March 2025. There is 1 pending revision awaiting review. Indo-Aryan ethnic group For other uses, see Romani (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Romanians or Roman people. Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Gypsy (disambiguation). Ethnic group Romani people Romani flag created in ...
The absence of a written history has meant that the origin and early history of the Romani people was long an enigma. Indian origin was suggested on linguistic grounds as early as the late 18th century. [9] In the Roma language, "rom" means husband/man, while "romňi" means wife/woman, and thus "roma" means "husbands/people".
The migration of the Romani through the Middle East and Northern Africa to Europe A Romanichal encampment in Essex, England (c. 1898) The Romani have origins in northwestern India, specifically Rajasthan, [14] and are believed to have migrated westwards in waves beginning in the 5th century.
Although the term "Roma" was endorsed in place of "Gypsies" at the first World Roma Congress in London, [9] many Romani people in Britain prefer to call themselves Gypsies, or names that include the term such as Romani Gypsies or Romany Gypsies. [10] [11] [5] [12] [8] [13] They also commonly refer to themselves as Romani or Romanies. [14]
Romani people are predominantly found in Europe, particularly in the Balkans, parts of Central Europe and Spain. The total number of Romani people living outside Europe are primarily in the Middle East and North Africa and in the Americas, and are estimated in total at more than two million.
Each June, Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month is celebrated in London. [91] International Romani Day is a holiday celebrated in Europe on April 8, especially in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. [92] World Roma Festival is a festival celebrated in Prague. [93]
Romani people have been recorded in the United Kingdom since at least the early 16th century. There are estimated to be around 225,000 Romani people residing in the UK. This includes the Romanichal, Kale (Welsh Roma), Scottish Lowland Roma and a sizeable population of Roma from Central and Eastern Europe, who immigrated into the UK in the late 1990s/early 2000s and after EU expansion in 2004.
Scottish Romani are the Romani people of Scotland. This includes Romanichal (locally also known as Border Gypsies) and Lowland Romani (Lowland Gypsies). [1]Scottish Travellers are non-Romani groups indigenous to Scotland who live or traditionally lived a nomadic lifestyle, including Scottish Highland Travellers, Scottish Lowland Travellers and Showmen (Funfair Travellers).