Despite obvious efforts to promote multiculturalism and tolerance in society, the national customs of other peoples seem strange and sometimes even frightening. Particularly the customs of the gypsy tribe who are said to live around us, but whose way of life is totally different. Let’s discuss this ethnic group’s unwritten rules on marriage and conjugal relations.
Gypsy girls marry very young.
By the age of 21, a Gypsy girl is already considered a potential wife. From then on, she strives to dance until the end of weddings and other events, knowing that during this period, the fathers of future husbands are looking for suitable candidates for their sons. If a Gypsy woman does not marry before the age of 25, she is considered an old widow.
Young men are judged according to the number of golden tubes.
On the wedding day, the bride was bought with gold. The amount of the dowry, determined by the number of three-liter cans of gold jewelry, was set by the bride’s father or, in his absence, by her brothers.
The results of the «bride’s honor» are announced at a later date.
Before the first wedding night, the bride stays with the oldest women in the family, who check her virginity. Afterwards, the results of the tests are shown in the form of a blood-stained sheet to the wedding guests, who carry it on a tray. This practice is called «exhibition of virtue». If the bride fails the examination, the marriage is immediately annulled and she remains an unmarried woman forever, which is considered by the Gypsies to be the worst of curses.
Divorce is not allowed.
In Gypsy culture, marriage is seen as a lifelong commitment, so divorce is not a widespread phenomenon. In exceptional cases, when it was impossible to continue living together, a Gypsy tribunal, made up of respected male figures from the camp, would meet and reach a decision.
