Description of the situation

The Roma culture is of Indian origin. Even today, the Roma people preserve numerous elements that reflect their cultural and ethnic origin and identity. Taking into account the historical facts of these people, one could say that the form of their culture has proven itself very functional. It endured the impacts of many incomparably more developed cultures. The Roma culture is based on happiness, love and freedom - these are their life values. The Roma people were the holders of musical culture in many areas. They were (and still are) the aficionados of medicinal herbs, national medicine and veterinary medicine. The Roma people are a creative, folklore nation with the intertwining Indian, Orient and Pagan-Slovenian elements. Their special feature is their spirit of tolerance which represents a result of the Roma culture.

Photo: delo.si. More than 90.000 euros for Roma culture projects. [online]. Available at: http://www.delo.si/novice/politika/dobrih-90-000-evrov-za-romske-kulturne-projekte.html

The nomad way of life, isolation, and cultural impacts of the societies in which they resided have a strong influence on the Roma habits and customs. The belief in life after death is a characteristic of the Roma people. They have formed numerous rituals with predominantly protective and guarding function. The most important customs relate to the birth, marriage and death. All the Roma of Muslim and Jewish religion follow the practices of sunnah or the customs of circumcision. This is usually performed on children aged from three to seven. This custom was once conducted by barbers, but it is now carried out in clinics under a close medical supervision.

The literature of the Roma in Slovenia started under the auspices of Romani Union (the Roma Union) from Murska Sobota with the first literary Roma publication entitled Lunin prstan (The Ring of the Moon) by the authors Jožek Horvat Muc and Jože Livijen.

References:

BRIZANI, I. T. 2000. Le ostanite Romi gredo! Celovec: Mohorjeva, 2000. 94 p. ISBN 3-85013-797-X
Culture. Portal projekta Romska hiša/Romano Kher [online]. Available at: http://www.romsvet.si/sl-si/romi-v-sloveniji/kultura-in-mediji

Language

In Slovenia, Indian nomads were divided in three groups speaking three dialects. These are small groups which originate from several European countries, which is also the reason for three dialects to emerge.