"CURSE ON THE GYPSIES" --- Part 1 of 2 (Excellent Documentary!!) 

In 1920 a caravan of Gypsies were passing thru my family’s town. One day they approached my Great Grandmother and asked if she could help feed their baby. She agreed to help and they left their beautiful infant daughter with her. Promising to come back for her. They never came back and that beautiful baby became my Aunt Dot. One of the best, most wonderful people I’ve ever known. Our family still treasures the pretty little orange dress with red embroidery she was wearing that day.

Back when History channel showed actual History . Now its a reality show channel

My best friend in middle school was a Gypsie. I was young and I didn't know anything about their social stigma. She was a straight A student and her dad was a hardworking man. She was an only child and was such a good person. She would even share her small allowance with me. I just learned now what people are saying about them here on RU-vid. Her mom would even invite me to have dinner with them at their house. She was originally from Hungary and came to the U.S. a child. The Gypsies I met were good people.

I disagree with many of the commenters. I was born in Mexico city, and when I was about ten, I met a group of gypsies who lived in a big old house ( I don't know if rented or their own) a couple of blocks from my house They befriended me and my friends and invited us to eat with them. They didn't have any furniture in their living room, but carpets and cushions, where they sat to eat. The women were house keepers, and most of the men worked in a nearby garden as gardeners and manteinance workers. They never stole anything from us, and they entertained us with tales of magic. My mom told me to invite them to our house and so I did. They were honest and reliable friends.

My grandma's family was Hungarian gypsies and its something she never talked about and I only found out about well after she passed. Wish I would have knew sooner to actually learn this history sooner, but it's neat learning about a culture I never knew about.

Can we all agree that what has happened to the history channel over the years is nothing short of a crime!?

Iam a proud Roma ❤ 🙏 .. and it’s a miracle that we survived as humans and our language music dance our culture survived with us with out a country since the 10th century while we were hunted down slaved tortured mass murded that’s us 💪🏼 ❤ 🙏 .. and I love all of our tribes ❤

We are ppl. There are good roma and there are bad roma. There are good people and there are bad people, human. Peace and love around the world

Two years ago when the RomaTaxi driver in Bucharest almost understood my conversation with my wife in the native tongue of Rajasthan, a north western state, I decided to spend time on this and find out how.. According to records Roma left India around 1050. They were the tired soldiers of the army of great Rajput King Prithviraj Chauhan who fought 17 wars with Mahmood gajnavi. All Roma belong to warrior tribes. They did not want to fight and some went west and some went down to south India where they still are in their red and yellow colour clothes and huge moustache. On the way,Roma took words from Persian (like bibi for Kaki) and many other tongues including Greek( drost for road). They somehow lost their last names of fine Rajput warrior tribes . Roma may try to find surnames like Sisodia, Chauhan, Shekhawat, Nainavat etc. But they kept first Indian names until 19th century like Bihari and his daughter Panna of Romania, both great musicians. Today Roma use many of the words from Rajasthani, Hindi and of Sanskrit origin. Few are ek do trin yak nak bal angusth bersh diwas sassu sussro saalo Sali chora chori cior(chor) gia sov kammes thalle upral purano maal and so on. Romani words are from pre Muslim era in India and hence pure Sanskrit lik hiv for snow or ice.Please go to the following in RU-vid to see more. “Romani an Indo Aryan Language” and “Roma girl from Kosovo finds her roots in India” All Roma had moustache which was necessary for Rajput warriors. Purity codes of Roma are still practiced in India like a lady not entering the kitchen during few days of the month. Roma break the plate if animal licks it. My mother used to give them to beggars. Roma had also carried our proverbs like” while choosing a daughter in law believe your ears more than eyes” meaning reputation of the girls family was more important than her beauty. Would native Europeans choose a daughter in law? Roma eventually lost their religion but Sara kali of southern France has favourite Rajput deity of Goddess kali. The deity is immersed in water body like we do in Rajasthan. “ Dr. HancockDr. Ian Hancock: Keynote Address at Romani Studies Conference, UC Berkeley There should be no doubt that Roma are our lost pral and Pena. Hats off to them to keep the language and culture alive even after 50 generations while we melt away in two generations. Any Roma may communicate with me on shree709@gmail.com I am a 65 years old factory owner from Hyderabad, India originating from Rajasthan where Roma come from.

Good documentary. I'd met Tom Merino in 2000 when he had been hired to do a film project for a local arts mansion in my hometown. I'd been 16, and invited to be a production assistant, and I enjoyed working with him on that project a lot. He treated me with respect, and I heard he had raved to my parents about my excellent work.

My favourite book of all time? "The Gypsies" by Jan Yoors. At age 17 in the 1970's it was a second bible to me, alone & on my own in the world. Valuable lessons about indifference to the material world & acquiring possessions.

For the past 10 years I have been friends with a Romani family they are some of the greatest people I've ever met in my life they would do anything for you I have gotten so close with one of them that I call him my uncle I love the Romani culture I love listening to them speak in their native tongue I have had dinners with them we have gone out together they have made me feel like I'm one of the family

I am a traveling train riding hitchhiking hobo. I can understand and relate to most of what the Roma have had to go threw as we hobos are treated the same way. LEOs harassing because we ain't part of their town, people turning you down for work when they supposedly need people. People thinking they can go threw your stuff when ever they want ect. It's infuriating but I live a free life style that only most people can dream of.

I can honestly say that from my own experience people will take advantage of you the first chance they get, and it makes no difference what race they are. Conning people, scamming people and getting over on people; is a problem in all races. I watched my dad, a kind, generous man; get taken advantage of all the time. Race doesn't matter.

I’m a Roma and I’m very proud of it. Opre!

I remember when this was broadcast. Thank you so much for posting.

My grandfather was raised by gypsies, and he had his physical features, his way of dressing, he even wore gold jewelry. I believe that he was the son of gypsies and that when he lost his parents he was raised by the rest of his family, an aunt or something like that.

I love other cultures, have nothing against anyone. But let me tell you about when I was 17, I worked at a Sheraton hotel in Billings Mt. The gypsies rented out many floors as they were having a wedding. The other maid gave me one of their floors. I was pregnant with my first daughter so they thought they would be nice to me. They were, especially the grandma, who talked to me so long, when I went to my maids cart everything was stolen off it! Lol good memories

My ex son in law is Rom I found the culture fascinating!. I also was saddened for all they went through! I loved the food!! Speaking of music his brother is very famous in Bosnia as a musician.

i had heard all the stories, when a group of 4 horse drawn traditional wooden horse drawn carriges stopped to camp near my town. This was about 20 years ago in the UK. I went round the camp site armed with a massive block of cheese, 4 loaves of proper nice bread and 3 bottles of vodka. My only intention was to learn more about them. What a fun, drunken night! They treated the "tourist" so patiently and told me so many stories, knowing that,that is what i was there for. I walked the 3miles home and still had some tobacco left for the morning.

Thank you for this, it's fascinating. I hope that you will continue to attempt to load Part 3 at some time in the future

I married a Czech gypsy, and it took his mother until her death to accept me LoL....my girls are exceptionally beautiful, and very proud of their lineage! History has not been kind to these people and it's time to honor their wonderful culture 😔

I very much enjoyed this documentary. Thanks

I have had the most wonderful interactions and experiences with Rroma people on some Greek islands and a cafe in Omonia Square in Athens. They are amazing people and I admire their spirit and incredible culture. I am grateful for the richness they shared with me.

I lived in southern Spain from beginning of the 60s till 72. The Gitanos were hard workers, kind, truthful and very communicative. They worked for my father and never disappointed us. A totally different experience compared to some gypsies from Romania., Bulgaria and Hungary.

I've met Gypsies in Spain... I gotta say they were pretty cool and super traditional with their guitar and a huge fire by the beach. People are people at the end of the day.

And the DANCING , everywhere there is the wonderful dancing that goes alllllll the way back 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 🥰 💃🕺🏻 my grown son compliments me by referring to me as his Gypsy mom and I’m complimented , I’m Irish Canadian and love to study the history of these wonderful people who have survived and kept their heritage safe and what a RICH COLOURFUL history it is . My great uncle use to have gypsy’s visit him over many years and he would show me what he bought from them or bartered for.I loved his feather duster he had from his friends .❤️😉🙃

Classic history channel I love it

I'm an American living in Romania for the last 8 years. There are many gypsies here. They do wear long skirts, they collect metal for the scrap yard, they live differently for sure, they are louder than the Romanians. I was almost robbed on the metro but being from Chicago I'm always on guard. I felt someone behind me on the train, felt a slight touch on my purse, and I turned to see a Romanian woman (not a gypsy) with her hand still in my purse. I yelled at her and pushed her. Because I spoke in English she backed away from me like I was from outer space, lol. I've never had any bad encounters with gypsies.

I grew up in Latvia in 1980s. there was a distinct Gypsy (Rrom, as I learned from this feature) neighborhood. They sold hashish for living. (I went there sometimes) I thought at that time that it was a scary neighborhood, but now that I recall it there was nothing scary but the occasional corrupt police raids. The people were nice and there were always flowers in their apartments.

Iam a filipino from philippines.Lately I've been wacthing documentaries among rohingya minorities of burma. Also heard of about gypsies stories of world war 2. How these people were slaughtered,massacred,persecuted that sort of things. Now, I've just got this question: "What's the difference between the corpse of a prince and the corpse of a gypsy??" Same thing as: "If a king died today,and a gypsy man died also. Would there be any difference between their dead bodies??" There will be no difference except that the dead king will be given a royal funeral with a lot of honors,while there's nothing on the gypsy man except the grieve of his loveones. We are all the same. No matter how genius a man is,,once he died there will be nothing of him.

thank you for shareing this.

Back when History Channel actually showed history

I used to work with Rom kids and honestly, they are really kind and friendly people. What struck me most was their poverty. I helped the last wagon residents with homework and came across mothers that did not eat for a week because of lack of food and an entire family living in a small trailer.

Wonderful documentary. Thank you

What a fascinating people. I can't wait to learn more.

I worked with a woman from India. I asked her if there were any Romany people still living in India-- like some that may have stayed behind or others who went back-- and she had no clue as to what I was talking about, nor has she ever heard of those people. She did say that 'if' there are Romanys still living in India, they would be living in the hills and outskirts of the main cities of Calcutta or Bombay. They referred to those particular people as 'Hill People'.

Romas always facinates me....its so sad what they went through.

I'm part Gypsy, part Jew, part Slav. None of my ancestors had a homeland. Its no mystery why I've wandered my whole life.

Persecuted because they can't be controlled. Same today.

I just saw a group at a hotel. A female from the group literally started a small fire near the property, in the grass, and cooked up some food! I was impressed.

To summarise gypsies emigrated from the northern regions of India around 1500 years ago.

I'm Roma and proud of it!

My cousin’s husband is from gypsies. Their kids have blond hair and dark skin and eyes. They look very different than the rest of my family but in a good way. They are beautiful children.

I’m Gypsy end I’m proud of it. Jawen saste i bahtałe Romałe.

Are we watching some old VCR converts . You are a true hero ......

I am English but my family were Romany we did descend from Punjab region but we are white now we are very mixed now

During the early 60s I met a young Gypsy King and his family. I am still in contact with them. I remember as a child I met an entire family of Gypsies who lived in Williamsburg Brooklyn New York on Stagg Street between Leonard Street and Lorimer Street. I loved the parties and festivals that they threw. I don't know why people are DEMONIZING them for they are truly very lovely people. The media had a role in DEMONIZING the Gypsies. Including Hollywood studios were GUILTY of portraying Gypsies as evil people. I trust them MORE THAN I TRUST ANY AMERICAN POLITICIAN!

I am proud of my Father’s Hungarian heritage me and my 8 siblings was called Gypsy in Germany.❤️🔥🎶🦋💫

They are called Nomads in Australia. The power of spirits dwell from within. Just like my family n extended families. Peace

Amazing vid, luv it❤❤❤❤

Nice to see you Mr. Shani Rifati in this documentary, regards from NYC

Very proud to be Romani ❤️ thanks for uploading this video.

Not mentioned in this Documentary part 2, Very famous Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt had a huge influence on Jazz Music with the Guitar.

1969 when I was 5 yrs. Old. A caravana of Spanish Gypsis, Stoped by my house in mexico. and i still remember the whole tribe.👩‍🦰👨‍🦰👱‍♀️🧔

Fascinating. Thank you :)

This is brilliant

I noticed here and there, there are image of Irish travellers mixed in with Gypsies. This is wrong. Irish travellers are distinctly and ethnically Irish. Not Roma. Scotland has a very similar native traveller culture, set apart from the Irish. True, the Roma went to England, so English Gypsies are different to Irish Travellers. Of course there has been some inter-marriage down the centuries in the UK, but generally, Irish travellers do not mix with the Roma, who only really started arriving over here since the 1990s. Recently Irish travellers have actually been granted a special 'ethnic status' in Ireland - Due to them having distinct cultural traits (customs, language history) But many find that a bit over the top, to describe that as ethnically different. Connemara people in the West have hugely distinctive differences than say, Dublin people (language, folklore, customs, sea-faring traditions) So do the Ulster Scots of the North, yet we are all not recognised as having different etnicities. Unfortunately I think it all plays into Identity politics

What an excellent enlightening history absolutelly brilliant

... thanx for posting this ... I recorded all the prog on v h s .. loaded to laptop not bad quality .. took it down after a copyright issue with some little thing I uploaded ... youtube threatened to shut my account ...still got the video tape somewhere .. kushti bok mush..

As a Brit I find it annoying that some races are lauded for upholding their culture and traditions yet as a Brit were called racist and xenophobic when we want to uphold ours, some races are lauded for keeping their ethnicity yet again were racist or xenophobic if we want to keep ours. There are a lot of double standards in the world. Roma are from India , it’s common knowledge now

I am a Punjabi, story of Romas is sad yet emboldening and wondrous.

This back when History channel made good television

I'm so intrigued with the Gypsy culture! Growing up as a little girl, we would go to the cemetery to visit my grandparents however, I had to go and visit the GYPSIES!!! Evergreen cemetery in Newark New Jersey has a huge amount of GYPSIES buried there! SINGING SAM STEVENS is buried there as well!

Man, how do you upload a vhs tape.

i would very much like to meet a person from this culture...love learning about ppl different from myself.

When I worked in a tourist town, Mackinaw City, in Michigan, the chamber of Commerce would send out a letter warning shopkeepers that “ the gypsies were moving through, with descriptions of their methods of tricking the workers and how to recognize them… later in college I did my anthropology final on the Rom. My great grandmother was said to be “gypsy”.

Metal forging technology was well developed during Indus Valley Civilization in North West India 3000 years B.C.

I am from Germany and had lots of Roma and Sinti Friends who made me feel ,ore welcome than my own family..They are a fascinating group of peoples and their history goes back all the way to India more than 5000 years ago

Years ago I managed a small retail shop in a strip mall in Ohio and we had an alarm system of sorts whereby each shop would call one other on a list if there was something everyone should know quickly . One of the things judged worthy of utilizing the system was " Gypsies In The Center " . They traveled in several car load groups and would literally swarm particular shops they thought had valuables that they could use or easily sell . Men , women and even little kids grabbing anything and everything they could then leaving before authorities could arrive. We would just lock the doors and wait until they left the mall. A LEO friend said they think they are a Chosen People and that non-Gypsies are put on Earth to provide for them .

Awesome documentary.

Good documentary. Thanks to the poster for recording this on VHS tape and then digitizing!

I respect them immensely... Because they are survivors!

The irony of constantly talking about slavery and abuse when not mentioning the fact of how women and children in this "culture" are treated. Innnzest, domestic violence, child marriage is ubiquitous. This is a very romantic depiction.

In the end we are all here for the ride :) love this documentary . Love you gypsy

Love this way of life ♥️

my grandfather on my mum's side, was Roma from Chez he left the family because of strife in the group

People loves you as long they dont know where your from. If they do they will stereotype u and ignores u

Very Interesting film.

Excellent !!!!! Grant B.

My mums side of the fam are of romani gypsy and Irish traveller ancestry, settling around Northumbria, Kent, suffolk and surrey for a few hundred years, im still tracing my roots there, and my dad's side are ancestors of william bradford and palatine immigrants who moved to Pennsylvania then later to suffolk, to think how both sides have survived prejudice and travelling these long journeys just amazes me of their courage and determination to live

When I was a teenager I worked at a carnival, the booth next to us were gypsies. Well I didn't know it then, but I was fascinated by them. Dad and mom were trapeze artists. They lived in Sarasota FL at Circus World.for the winter and traveled carnivals in summer. I was friends with the daughters. They were blond hair and blue eyes. Parents were very guarded with the daughters but they were nice, i had a good impression of them.

Ay man am an Gypsy living in Europe, my family for many generations have lived here.

Thanks I never knew this ❤

WE ARE SO AFRAID OF PAST,WE SPEAK NOTHING OF FURTURE.

They must be absolutely supreme warriors. They survived toughest challenges, ever possible to survive for any human group in last 1000 year in the world. Their journey is inspiring. We love our Roma brother & sisters. With love from India...🙏🇮🇳🇮🇳

I've met lots of them in north Georgia all great people always looking out for the entire community they are always welcome at my table!!!!!!

The beautiful music is sought of feeling of sorrow among lands…

A book anyone interested in this life style should read is, Bury Me Standing ( The Gypsies and their standing ) by Isabel Fonseca Fabled ,feared, romanticized , and revield, the Gypsie - or Roma - are among the least understood people on earth. Now a diaspora of twelve million , their culture remains largely obscure, but in this book they have found an eloquent witness.

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

Appreciate the old footage ...very good.

Does anyone know the name of the song at 9:13 ? Or where I can find that footage?

I'd heard bad things about gypsies all my life, but just assumed that it was more racist crap that someone had dreamed up for whatever reason, and then, in the '90s, I had to go to the Czech Republic on assignment for my company, and ran into them first hand. The locals seemed genuinely terrified of them, pointing to the ubiquitous bars on the windows that people had put up to protect themselves against break-ins. I still had doubts until I went out for a beer with my hosts, and a couple of Roma came in; they grabbed two chairs next to the TV, changed the channel without asking, drank a few brews and acted pretty surly toward the other patrons, then left without paying (one of them pulled up his shirt to show a gun in his waistband as they left), and I have to say, their body odor was nauseating (and this was in a country which has very different standards of personal hygiene, of which I'd already become accustomed) beyond belief - I was seated a good thirty feet away, and I wanted to leave just to get some fresh air. Admittedly, that was just one experience, but it left an impression; can't say that I've adopted the animus, but I'm more understanding of the Europeans' views now

Both my grandparents were Romany travellers.never ripped anyone off or expected anything for nothing.never claimed a penny and worked all there lives & raised 10 children along with the numerous children they took in when there parents were struggling.this misconception of gypsys robbing every town they went through is a newish thing because of a few bad apples that aren't even proper gypsys but are free loaders that think everyone owes them something because they're gypsys.real gypsys are proud people ,so wouldn't accept handouts or rob anyone.so before you tie all gypsys together please speak to them 1st and judge them then .!!!

I am Rom and was brought in the late 70s within that culture. It had its hardships but it was equally beautiful and a natural way of being, which for me, although, not brought up religious, is how I imagined how God intended our freedom to look like. For me it was paradise on earth - I look at us as being the last of the magical species that one day will only be written and read about like many things lost to mythical lore. There is good and bad in all - there are many fascinating stories that I've heard, seen in my time - where our people came across Christ on the Silk road after his Crucifixion travelling with his family. The Daughter of Christ and Mary Magdalene, Sarah Tamar who spent alot of her life in Alexandria Is the patreon saint of our people and known as Sarah la Kali - goes hand in hand why were called Egyptians and why we were messengers for nobility among other roles. There are tales we aided Robert The Bruce in the 1300s in the Battle of Bannockburn - not as Roma but as Templars - hence why William Sinclair (builder of the Rosslyn Church/Grail family) gave protection to Roms and we took his name.

They are a wonderful people!

Jay Shree Ram 🚩🇮🇳🙏

Im a gypsy! I am an entertainer type. I make art and music and skateboard. I have been homeless in a huge city and liked it. I am in and out of mental hospitals. Poor and alone. But i will make it one day! With or without a "deal"!

THE ROMA ARE BLESSED PEOPLE. THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE, I HAVE MET A LOT OF THEM, I HAVE RESPECT, LOVE, AND ADMIRATION FOR THEM...... THEY ARE LIKE ALL OF US, VERY GOOD PEOPLE................

this is a good doc