|
I Rom Italiani
(di Alexian Santino Spinelli)
I Rom di
antico insediamento, con cittadinanza italiana sono circa 45.000
e rappresentano uno dei primissimi gruppi rom arrivati in Italia
e grazie alla lunga permanenza sono relativamente più inseriti
nel contesto sociale ed economico della società maggioritaria
rispetto ad altri gruppi di recente immigrazione. In passato le
attività principalmente esercitate erano quelle che lasciavano
spazio all'essere e alla creatività e quelle che facilitavano
i rapporti umani. Da qui l'attività di musicisti, di fabbri
calderari, di commercianti di cavalli, di lavoratori di metalli.
Il progresso tecnologico, il boom economico, lo sviluppo delle attività
industriali hanno soppiantato le attività tradizionali e
la maggioranza dei Rom ha dovuto operare una riconversione economica,
ma il modo di porsi di fronte alla vita e di interiorizzarla e soprattutto
la struttura sociale dei Rom e rimasta nei secoli pressoché
immutata. L'istituzione fondamentale su cui si regge la società
romanès e la famiglia, intesa nel senso più ampio,
come gruppo cioè che si riconosce nella discendenza da un
antenato comune. Da sempre oggetto di violenza i Rom hanno rafforzato
i rapporti endogamici e i vincoli di solidarietà familiare,
mantenendo invece verso l'esterno un atteggiamento di resistenza.
Vi è in questo un profondo senso di sfiducia e un'intima
esigenza di difesa. Il sistema sociale e vissuto nelle profonde
componenti umane, basato essenzialmente sul severo rispetto delle
norme etico-morali che regolano e disciplinano la comunità
romanès per garantire ai singoli individui la piena integrazione.
Essi tutelano la dignità e l'onore del Rom. Non esistono
classi o gerarchie sociali se si esclude quella semplicistica di
ricchi e poveri, cosicché anche il più ricco e in
relazione con il più povero e viceversa in base ad un principio
di eguaglianza che riflette una ottica di vita di tipo orizzontale.
In questo contesto il Rom italiano si sente parte di una totalità
singolare che lo porta a differenziarsi sia dai caggé (non
rom) sia dagli altri gruppi rom (Rom stranieri, Sinti, Kalé,
Manouches, Romanichals), ciò si traduce in un proprio stile
di vita con modi propri di esprimersi e di comportarsi. Chi vuole
avere una buona reputazione ed intende essere rispettato dagli altri
Rom si adegua al rispetto delle norme morali che regolano la vita
sociale all'interno della comunità. Un Rom si sente perfettamente
sicuro in seno alla sua comunità, costituita dall'insieme
di tanti singoli gruppi parentelari dove non esistono né
regine né tantomeno re come invece tende a far credere il
sensazionalismo giornalistico che copre con la fantasia e l'immaginazione
le proprie carenze informative. Il mondo romanó vien perciò
presentato o in termini mitologici o in termini criminalizzanti,
l'una e l'altra forma sono delle distorsioni che alterano il mondo
rom producendo stereotipi negativi e pregiudizi, oltre che segregazione
razziale di cui i Rom restano vittime. La sicurezza del Rom deriva
dalla tradizione che lo pone sicuro di fronte al futuro e dalla
coesione, che lo pone sicuro davanti all'imprevedibile. Tutto ciò
si traduce in un forte equilibrio psicologico. Le relazioni ben
strette fra educazione, coesione ed equilibrio psicologico sono
minacciate dai contatti conflittuali esterni. Il cardine della struttura
sociale dei Rom e la famiglia patriarcale, dove il vecchio, considerato
saggio, ne é rappresentante riconosciuto. Ci sono Rom che
vengono esclusi per le loro pessime qualità morali, sono
considerati "gavalé" e sono derisi e scherniti.
L'arrivo in Italia
L'origine indiana dei Rom si è scoperta nel XVIII secolo
attraverso lo studio della lingua romaní. Con lo studio filologico
si è potuto ricostruire l'itinerario seguito dalla popolazione
romaní nel suo lungo cammino in quanto essa prendeva a prestito
parole dai popoli con cui veniva a contatto. Dall'India del Nord
sono arrivati in Europa attraverso la Persia, l'Armenia e l'Impero
Bizantino. Dai Balcani si sono diramati in tutta Europa, arrivando
anche in Russia e, con le deportazioni, nelle Americhe, in Africa
e in Australia. Oggi sono presenti in tutti i continenti e in tutti
i Paesi d'Europa con oltre 12 milioni di persone. In Italia ci sono
circa 35.000 Sinti di antico insediamento (cittadini italiani) e
circa 40.000 rom stranieri di recente immigrazione per un totale
di circa 120.000 individui.
Il primo documento certo che segnala l'arrivo dei Rom in Italia
è quello del 18 luglio 1422, un'anonima cronaca bolognese
contenuta nella Rerum Italicarum Scriptores di Ludovico Antonio
Muratori.
Italian
Rom (by Alexian Santino Spinelli)
There
are about 45,000 Roms historically settled and with Italian citizenship,
who form one of the earliest Rom groups to have reached Italy and
whose many years on the territory have led to a relative integration
in the social and economic context of mainstream society if compared
to other, more recently arrived groups. In the past, the most usual
activities undertaken were any that left space for oneself and for
creativity, as well as those that smoothed the progress of human
interaction. Consequently Roms were musicians, blacksmiths and tinsmiths,
horse merchants. Technological progress, the economic boom, industrial
development, all replaced traditional activities and most Roms were
forced to apply economic reconversion, but their manner of dealing
with life and interiorizing it, and above all the social structure,
have not changed much over the centuries. The fundamental underpinning
of Romanès society is the family, taken in its broadest sense,
which is to say as a group that can be identified through its descent
from a shared ancestor. Roms have always been targets for violence
and they have reinforced endogamous relationships and family support,
whilst their hostility towards outsiders has grown. This is rooted
in a deep sense of mistrust and an inner need for defence. The social
system is experienced in the deepest of human components, based
essentially on keen respect for ethical and moral codes that govern
the Romanès community, ensuring total integration for each
individual. The codes protect Rom dignity and honour. There are
no social classes or hierarchies except the simplistic rich-poor
differentiation, so that the richest relates to the poorest, and
vice versa, on the basis of a principle of equality that reflects
a horizontal perspective of life. In this context, the Italian Roms
feel they are part of a unique whole that sets them apart from caggé
(non Roms) and from other Rom groups (foreign Roms, Sinti, Kalé,
Manouches, Romanichals), which translates into a personal lifestyle
with self-expression and conduct. Anyone who wants to have a good
reputation and wants to be respected by other Roms will live by
the moral code that governs the social existence within the community.
Roms feel perfectly secure within their community, made up of many
small related groups where there are neither queens nor kings, unlike
the image propagated by sensationalist journalism that fills the
gaps in its knowledge with sheer fantasy and fiction. Consequently,
the Romanó world is presented in mythological terms or is
criminalized, both forms being distortions that alter the Rom world
and produce negative stereotypes and prejudices, as well as racial
segregation of which the Rom is a victim. Rom confidence is rooted
in the tradition that sees them confident with respect to the future
and with respect to cohesion, confident with respect to the unforeseen.
All this becomes a strong psychological equilibrium. Relationships
strongly entwined in upbringing, cohesion and psychological equilibrium
are threatened by conflicting contact with the outside world. The
bedrock of Rom social structure is the patriarchal family, where
the elder is considered wise and is an acknowledged representative.
There are Roms who are ostracised for their poor morality, and being
considered gavalé, are mocked and taunted.
The arrival in Italy
Research into the Romaní language in the eighteenth century
brought to light the fact that the Roms were of Indian origin. Philological
studies reconstructed the route taken by the Romaní population
in its lengthy evolution, since the language has borrowed from the
peoples with whom the Roms came into contact. From northern India
they arrived in Europe through Persia, Armenia and the Byzantine
Empire. From the Balkans they branched out across all of Europe,
arriving as far as Russia and, following deportations, the Americas,
Africa and Australia. Nowadays there are a total of 12 million Roms
present in every continent and in all European countries. In Italy
there are about 35,000 Sinti of historic settlement (Italian citizens)
and about 40,000 foreign Roms who have arrived with recent waves
of immigration, for a total of about 120,000 people.
The first document that mentions the arrival of Roms in Italy is
dated 18 July 1422 and is an anonymous Bolognese chronicle that
can be found in Ludovico Antonio Muratori's Rerum Italicarum Scriptores.
The language
Rom language is called Romanès or Romaní ©hib
and is a close relation of neo-Indian languages, continuing to use
faithfully a large number of words of Indian origin. The language
spoken by the Italian Roms has borrowed from Persiani, Armenian,
Greek, Serbo-Croat, as well as having several German words and dialect
elements from central-southern Italy, testifying to the route taken
by the Italian Roms in their long journey that began in North West
India, heading west. Despite ten centuries of toil and continued
repression inflicted by host countries, with no written tradition
available and subject to the influences of external languages, the
tongue of the historically settled Italian Roms has survived in
the most extraordinary manner, although it has been greatly weakened.
The language spoken by the Roms is essentially practical but extremely
dynamic.
Romanès is the real mirror of the history and culture of
this ancient population, its extension underscoring the diversity
that characterises the Romanó world and independence with
which Roms absorb words from other languages, transforming them,
remodelling and adapting them. It is the Romanès way of keeping
up to date and living in harmony with surroundings.
Celebrations: betrothal and marriage
A typical Romanès celebration in the south is o bu©hvibbés
the serenade, or proposal of betrothal. It is one of the
accepted ways of approaching a family with which there are no blood
ties and with whom no friendship exists. The serenade by o ©havó
tarnó (unmarried boy) officially asks for the hand of the
©hà tarní (unmarried girl). The Romaní
serenade, whose origin is lost in the mists of time, was probably
acquired by the Roms in the Neapolitan ambient but has endured to
the present day, performed by a group of musicians paid for occasion,
outside of the chosen girl's home, with no prior agreement between
the parties, except for a forewarning made by messengers to a relative
of the girl's parents. Three songs are dedicated to the girl and
two to her close family, especially anyone who could express a favourable
opinion or exercise positive influence on the parents. After serenading
the chosen girl, the group proceeds to the members of the family,
then returns to the girl and to avoid any misunderstanding, announces
the name of the interested party in no uncertain terms. The celebration
lasts all night, in the open air, with the involvement of the young
suitor's friends and family. Early in the morning the boy's parents
prepare a huge banquet in a room set aside for the purpose, with
all kinds of confectionery and cakes, with coffee to drink, to welcome
the courted girl and her family. In the meantime the messengers
proceed to bear the honours due to the girl's parents. Their task
is very delicate and consequently the persons chosen are the most
suitable and above all influential, members of families who are
in no way connected or involved with either of the other two families.
Following the announcement of the suitor's intentions, the girl's
father calls a family council to assess the proposal, also consults
with his daughter and then goes to the banquet with the rest of
the family to express his opinion. If the decision is negative,
then the father will declare "I have no daughters to be married"
or "My daughter does not wish to marry". If the decision
is positive, however, the daughter is also called and she is introduced
to the suitor, exchanging engagement rings. The engagement (ngustiasibbé)
is then celebrated with a lively party, plenty of music and lots
to drink. The messengers almost always become Khirivé tar
ngustlì, witnesses at the wedding. After the period of engagement,
in which the betrothed get to know one another, the wedding date
is decided (xlosevibbé or prandilipé). If disagreements
arise between the two families or between the fiancés, or
more simply if the girl's father decides to break off the engagement
during this period, he is obliged to reimburse the suitor's family
for all the costs incurred: musicians, rings, clothing, banquet,
travel etc. To prevent such things happening and to ensure the girl
will encounter no future difficulties in finding another suitor,
the fiancés are never left alone together. The girl's physical
purity is a fundamental element and an absolute value in Romaní
culture. The costs of the betrothal are shouldered by the groom's
family whilst the wedding will be paid for by the bride's parents,
unless different agreements are reached. In the past it was not
unusual for couples to elope, precisely to avoid the great expense
of the engagement and wedding, when the families could not afford
it.
An Italian Rom wedding is a huge celebration, almost always with
the couple travelling in a glittering carriage drawn by several
pairs of horses. The wedding party, with sumptuous food and plenty
to drink, is a special moment when the various family groups meet
and it is also a ripe moment for encouraging new romances. The celebration
is always hallmarked by deep human warmth and captivating liveliness,
with lots of music and no lack of good wine.
I kriss: the Rom civil court
I kriss is a real Rom civil tribunal, composed of elders, called
Rom phuré, to whom the opposing parties turn for resolution
of disputes of a moral, matrimonial, economic, civil nature. Roms
chosen to make up this tribunal are calledi Rom di Kriss or Rom
pativalé and selected because they have special human and
moral qualities, because of their reputation within the community,
for their prestige and wisdom. The more respectable (pativaló)
a Rom is, the more publicly worthy and intelligent he will appear
in i kriss. I kriss is also the Rom juridical system used for safeguarding
the patìve (honour) of each individual in the Romaní
community. The sentence expressed by the Rom pativalé (men
of honour) is final and is immediately applied. In the past, when
Roms lived a long way from urban centres because they suffered harsh
repression, if the offence was especially serious, the punishment
consisted in being cast out of the group. This meant being alone
and ostracised by the group and also ostracised from inhospitable
and segregating ruling society.
O merribbé
Death (o merribbé) is a deeply-felt event for Roms. In a
sincere sense of solidarity, all members of the family gather together
to share the pain of death. A dying Rom is never left alone, till
the last breath is drawn. Friends and relatives take turns at the
bedside in a spirit of love and respect, even if the Rom is a true
misfit. The coffin is almost always transported by a carriage, whilst
the funeral cortege is accompanied by a group of musicians and an
emotional cortege. Rom will travel for miles to a funeral. The closest
to the grieving family bring the consolo, which is a meal of comfort,
with enormous amounts of food so that after the wake, everyone can
have some refreshment. The meal will not included dairy products,
meat or eggs, which Roms in mourning (kalipé) refuse to eat
for some time; the meal will comprise fish, starchy foods and vegetables.
The mourning period, or kalipé, varies depending on how close
the relationship of kin or friendship is: anything from six months
to three years. Mourning includes dressing in black and forsaking
any entertainment. So no parties, ceremonies or banquets can be
attended, radio and TV cannot be used and it is not possible to
enter public establishments like bars, discos, restaurants, taverns
etc. Men do not shave and grow unkempt beards for several weeks.
During mourning, women in particular do not leave the house and
social contacts are limited to the family. Italian Roms have an
outright cult of the dead, whom they call muluré, a diminutive
form of extreme affection. The greatest insult a Rom could receive
or proffer would be offending the dead.
|
|