Mageripen

Mageripen
   A Sinti term for the hygienic rules of the Romany community. Romani names in other dialects for the same concept are the adjectives mockerdi (in England) and mahrime (Kalderash). There is a broad set of concepts of cleanliness and a system of taboos maintaining the opposition of the socially or spiritually clean to persons or objects seen as unclean or dirty. Traditionally Gypsies have placed much emphasis on the uncleanness of women at the time of their menses and after childbirth. Dogs are considered as having the potential to make things dirty and are excluded from the caravan or home. To preserve cleanliness, a strict separation is observed when washing clothes, food, and the human body. Many of these rules are observed by the majority populations in the Balkans. Some western European Gypsies consider all non-Gypsies to be dirty by definition and reserve special cups and even chairs for visitors.

Historical dictionary of the Gypsies . .

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mahrime —    See Mageripen …   Historical dictionary of the Gypsies

  • Mockerdi —    Adjective used by English Gypsies for ritually unclean.    See also Mageripen …   Historical dictionary of the Gypsies

  • Rom —    The name used to describe themselves by the majority of ethnic Gypsies in their own language. The etymology is unclear but the term may come from an old Indian word dom, the original meaning of which was man. Derivation from the god Rama is… …   Historical dictionary of the Gypsies

  • Shero (Szero) Rom —    Romany chief. The leader of the Lowland Gypsies in Poland. In 1890, Baso was elected to this office. He founded a hereditary dynasty that continued until at least 1976. In 1946 his grandson, Felus, was deposed for breaking the Mageripen code,… …   Historical dictionary of the Gypsies

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