La Gitana (Roman Gypsies)

[jtapia]

It is believed (passed down in family stories) that my great great great grandmother was known simply as "Teresina La Gitana" or Little Teresa the Gypsy. Does anyone have any knowledge of the Gitana or even the practice of Mal' Occhio (the Evil Eye) of the 1800s or early 1900s in Italy? I am interested in Roma and Cori (Latina) in particular.

Thank you.

[mfjp]

Re: Malocchio... Here's an interesting site...
http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/err/index.htm

The copy below was from CHAPTER III THE EXORCISM OF DEATH

"'Bruccio questa robba,
Perche voi altre streghe maladette
Non potete avere mai bene,
Perche io vi cerchato una fortuna
Che non me l'avete voluta dare!'"

("'This plant upon the coals I burn
To do ye witches an evil turn.
May every evil come to ye.
I asked a favour, and I see
That none from you has come to me!'")

[tbottegal]

Here is a short article with new findings about the origins of Roma:

• Science News, 25 Sept. 04, Vol 166, p197

While this isn't about your family in particular, it's quite interesting and you might want to make a copy for your files.

T. Bottegal

[ptimber]

My compliments to the Chef!! Peter

[JamesBianco]

I was in Rome December 2003, and I had a horrid experience with gypsies in the streets. My friend was accosted by a group of Gypsy women they tried grabbing his bag and they were all over him rubbing his back feeling for his wallet/money. I started yelling at them as loud as I could, they finally left him alone. He was shaking like a leaf afterward.
I had a similar experience in Palma de Mallorca a few years back, tho thankfully I was staying with Spanish natives and they quickly dispersed them. From what I understand they are a problem in almost all European larger cities.


Jim Bianco

[AmyT]

My friend who lives in Italy sporatically with her 'Italian' mom, says sometimes the children are worse. They use a piece of cardboard and wrap it around tourists banging on the cardboard while one of the children goes underneath and takes a wallet or something. I MYSELF have never seen anything like that, but my friend blends well so they never try to go for her..

[ptimber]

I suggest you buy one of those collapsable car radio antennae and when you are similarly surrounded just pull it out and get their attention. Peter

[wldspirit]

Not that I've ever been looted by a wild band of gypsies, the post did
bring back memories of my nonna. Whenever I was bad, she would tell me I better be good or the gypsies would get me. I hadn't thought of gypsies in years, thanks for putting a smile on my face

[JamesBianco]

I MYSELF have never seen anything like that, but my friend blends well so they never try to go for her..

It's really frightening. For some reason they never touched me, I think it is because all of my clothes were Italian and I have ethnic features, while my friend is a typical looking American tourist type. It's funny, all these insults my nona used to teach me as a child came out when I was yelling at them. My accent is near perfect so maybe thats why they let him go.

Jim

[AmyT]

Well, I had an acquaintance who traveled to Greece with two of my friends and she wore cowboy boots and wrangler jeans with some ill form fitting T-shirt of hers, and she was very loud and touristy... -- she is the type of girl that makes Italian men think that American girls are easy. This is the type that is usually pegged for conning, that and I think anyone who wears a fanny pack