International Romani Day

International Romani Day is an international holiday dedicated to Roma. It is designed to raise public awareness of this culture and to eradicate existing stereotypes about Roma, as well as to combat discrimination. The holiday is celebrated annually on April 8.

History

The history of International Romani Day begins in 1971. At that time, from April 7 to 12, the first international gathering of Roma took place in the English city of Chelsfield. Such gatherings demonstrated the strength and unity of Romani diasporas in all corners of the world. At the meetings, they discussed a variety of issues: public relations, education, implementation of initiatives to eradicate discrimination, and much more. However, the holiday was established much later, at a convention in Poland in 1990.

The Gypsies originally lived in South Asia and were nomadic in lifestyle, as they were itinerant musicians who often performed in the courts of the rulers. They gradually migrated to different parts of Europe, and their culture absorbed different traits from other cultures. The Romani people endured much suffering during the WWII, when they were severely persecuted by the Nazis. Today the Roma remain one of the most oppressed peoples, and this holiday is meant to rectify that!

Interesting facts

• In the early 19th century, most of the Roma migrated to the United States.
• Today, the largest Roma diaspora is in the United States, about 1 million people. There are 200,000 fewer Roma living in Brazil.
• The languages spoken by Roma within their culture are usually derived from Sanskrit.

How to celebrate

Congratulate family and friends on this holiday if they are Romani. Learn more about Romani culture on this day. Watch movies about them, and read interesting information on the Internet.

Tell users about the holiday on social media. Find out how they feel about Roma culture?

When is International Romani Day celebrated in 2024?

International Romani Day is observed on April 8 each year.

Observations