What is Fijian culture like?

Question for people of Gypsy culture?

• There was a girl I went to school with and she kept telling us that she was a Gypsy. She was 25 and she didn't know a lot of things, it seemed like she had never been to school before. At first I was kind of annoyed at how she didn't know a lot of things and how it was like you had to teach her everything. But then I started watching the TV shows My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. I learned that females that live and grew up in the Gypsy culture, they didn't go to school or they were taken out of school at a young age. That the girls were raised to be home makers, or that they stayed home and cleaned house and took care of the family and the men went to school and went to work. I learned that the Gypsy lifestyle or culture is a lot different than what I was raised. And I wanted to learn more. I learned from the TV show that when the people of Gypsy culture have weddings or first communion, they girls are dressed in very big and heavy and glamorous dresses. I am not a Gypsy but I do support the people of Gypsy culture. Also the outfits you wear are very colorful and really stand out. I guess my question is, I want to learn more about the Gypsy culture, history, lifestyle. Anyone out there of Gypsy culture that can educate me? Do you know any websites I can go to that I can learn more about this unique culture or heritage or group? Is all the Gypsy people on the TV Show "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" is that how lots of them dress today? Why are the girls always dressed up in lots of makeup and colorful glamorous clothes? I also learned that some Gypsy cultures are very strict about how a girl should be. Like they can't date anyone, they have to be very modest and well mannered. But if that is true, how come they still go out with short skirts and low cut shirts? Where did Gypsy culture originally come from? Are the traditions still the same as they were a long time ago? How come we don't really hear about the Gypsy culture or traditions? We are always hearing about every other culture. I am sorry if I offend you by how I am writing, I don't mean to offend anyone. Please educate me about this unique and colorful culture.

• Answer:

  Greetings. Above are a lot of questions which would take pages to answer - even hands on experiences to understand the world of the Roma Gypsies. It's another culture, and a culture is in the blood, in the upbringing and cannot fully be understood in the sterile environment of a forum. Still, I thank you for asking as you want to try and understand. And I will try and answer. Succinctly. Allow me to address you to two questions I have answered that relate to My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. Hopefully they will help in your research. 1. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuIbXhCmaix9AJERyDBsQpHsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20110620075643AA4Uu6c 2. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmcKTBe6wJB2_AKo7jflmzfty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20110617193052AAwtdyf Also, feel free to read more of my answers in my profile page - most are regarding Roma Gypsies. 1. Do you know any websites I can go to that I can learn more about this unique culture or heritage or group? What academia and scholars have concluded about Roma Gypsies is heavily prejudiced by the powers of Colonisation. A so-called superior culture, such as Eurocentrism, will naturally impose its beliefs on its subjects. Googling "Effects of Colonisation" will give an introductory exposition of the impact of Colonisation on its subjects. The popular axiom, "history is written by the victor", may have some merits. In light of this, most of what you would read in most of the internet is biased (most times naively so) by the prejudice that Roma Gypsies originated from India. Here is a website that is thorough and will reveal to you a more reliable history of the Roma Gypsies and our customs and traditions: Origins of Roma Gypsies http://www.imninalu.net/myths&facts.htm 2. How come we don't really hear about the Gypsy culture or traditions? It's my understanding that Roma Gypsies have not always been so reclusive. But after ages of persecution many have become reclusive. Understandably so, if one only takes a moment to familiarise ourselves with persecution we have suffered. Feel free to read some of this history, and enlighten yourself with some of our most treasured traditions and culture in my essay, "Eurocentrism and its Impact on Romany Gypsies": http://tatchodrom.net/eurocentrism-and-roma/ 3. Is all the Gypsy people on the TV Show "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" is that how lots of them dress today? Why are the girls always dressed up in lots of makeup and colorful glamorous clothes? The show is only that, a show. And it hardly portrays the true culture of the Roma Gypsies. Allow me to explain. Amongst Roma Gypsies we have a term "Posh Rat". This term is interpreted as "Half Blood", but there is another term that describes some one who is ethnically mixed and that is "Diddikay". What does Posh Rat mean? It refers to someone who have lost the Roma Gypsy spirit. And the people in the show appear to me as such. Mind you, I have only watched three episodes of the first season. I had enough after that. To give you an idea of what a Roma Gypsy wedding is like, from a down to earth point of view, have a look at these videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/bonitoflamen92 There's a BIG FAT GYPSY DIFFERENCE. ;) Hope this has helped. http://tatchodrom.net/