Keywords: Romani, customs, dualism, maxrime thaj uźo, Manicheism, Pavlicianism, gazo, Penticostalism
Abstract:
The dualism and the other customs of the “căldărari” gypsies is rather unknown to the Orthodox clerics, so that in order to practice a correct Orthodox pastorship or even mission, requires some knowledge of their customs, especially of the roots of their dualistic customs and the actual manifestations. This required a deep research, which I tried to accomplish by studying the religious influences that played a major role in the formation of the Romani customs until they reached Europe. Though these influences can be clearly present in the real life, little is known about their origins. Besides the historical sources, I have resorted to observing their manners, to simple discussions with the gypsies (the “căldărari” branch) from the Sintești village and others doing in the same time a comparative analysis. Though the Romani in general have their common features and old customs, they differ significantly in some manifestations, function of their place and origins. So this analysis have in view the dualistic manifestations of the traditionalist gypsies, which is of the “căldărari” branch, not the ones somehow similar, belonging to the “ursari, spoitori and carpathians” (of Transylvania).
Pages: 164-190