Showing posts with label Roma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roma. Show all posts

May 9 - Heroes' Day in Moldova

Posted on May 9, 2020

This kind of crowded parade is likely canceled this year.
Because of you-know-which-virus.

Okay, I have to admit that I changed the name of Moldova's holiday a little bit. The proper name (in Moldovan) is "Victory Day and Commemoration of the Fallen Heroes for the Independence of the Fatherland."

W - O - W!

This is another of those V-E Day commemorations (celebrating the anniversary of the defeat of the Nazis and the end of WWII in Europe - see yesterday's post!). 

Because Moldova was once part of the USSR, this nation celebrates Victory in Europe on May 9 rather than on May 8, as Western European nations do.

Here are a few things one could see in Moldova (if there were no global pandemic, and one could actually travel to Moldova!!):

A bronze statue of The Little Prince

The Little Prince is a character in a children's book written by a French writer, but for some reason a Moldovan public statue exists of this character, in a park, by a lake.

But the statue is tiny - the whole thing is only four inches (11 cm) tall (so the Prince himself is smaller); this photo gives you a point of reference:

Compared to the statue, the Milestii Mici is a perfectly huge wine cellar. (As a matter of fact, compared to all other wine cellars in the world, this one is huge - it's a network of 150 miles of underground caves and corridors and wine racks!)





Did you know that "gypsy" is a hateful word to some people? (And for sure "gyp" - meaning to cheat someone - IS hate speech. Don't say it. Ever.) The Roma people have faced centuries of discrimination, and many prefer the name "Roma" and tell us, "Don't call me gypsy!" Other Roma people think that the word gypsy is so common, they want to reclaim it. Since nobody is insulted by the name Roma, that is the name I will use - EXCEPT to say that the place in Moldova I want to mention is called by many "Gypsy Hill."

 Located in the town of Soroca, this hill is covered with extravagant mansions, including some that have features copied from notable buildings of the world.

The Roma people who have built mansions here are deliberately showing off to the rest of the world because they want to make the point that some of their people have become rich in spite of all the hate.


Interestingly enough, some of the mansions are more show than reality. Some don't have normal comforts on the inside - you know, useful things like plumbing and electricity - and some house quite a few families. Because of the somewhat nomadic lifestyle of many Roma families - and because it's hard to make a living without moving around to follow opportunities - some of the mansions sit empty most of the year.

Weird but cool, right?




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April 8 – International Romani Day

Posted on April 8, 2016


Don't call them gypsies!

The Romani people have met with stereotyping, discrimination, and outright persecution for centuries.

By the way, if you're not sure what these three words mean:
  • “stereotyping” means assuming that pretty much all members of a group share certain characteristics, good or bad (such as “gypsies are thieves” or “Asian people are super smart”).
  • “discrimination” means facing prejudice based on negative stereotypes (such as not being hired for a job because the boss assumes that Romani people can't be trusted, or not being welcome in a restaurant because “we don't serve that kind”).
  • “persecution” means aggression, punishment, or violence (such as anti-Gypsy laws expelling Romani people from a nation, or Hitler imprisoning and killing Romani people).
Romani people still face discrimination even today, in Europe. In the U.S., things are a little more complex. Many Americans don't recognize the name “Romani” (aka “Roma” or “Romany” or "Roms"), but they associate the word “Gypsy” (aka “gipsy”) with a lifestyle rather than a people. To some extent, American perceptions of “the Gypsies” is positive – free-spirited hippy sorts who travel from place to place, wear colorful clothing, and love to sing and dance.

But even popular stereotypes are offensive, right? Why should people who don't move a lot, who don't sing or dance, and who wear "regular" or “normal” clothes have to explain over and over again, “Not all Gypsies are like that”? When an entire group of people is misrepresented – even if they are romanticized, rather than vilified – the people being misrepresented are often – understandably – angry or sad.

Some Romani people don't mind being called “Gypsies,” but many do; it is considered by many to be a racial slur. So play it safe and avoid the term.


Today is a day to celebrate the Romani people and culture. Here are some resources:

  • This is the flag of the Romani people.
    The ancestral roots of the Romani people are
    in Northern India. Can you see the similarity between
    Romani flag (above) and the flag of India (below)?

Some Romani people are very wealthy and
built and live in large, posh houses like the one above.

On the other hand, too many Romani people live in
poverty. Some of them travel about in simple wagons (below). 

Above, traditional Roma dress.
Below, most Romani people wear
modern clothes most of the time.


Also on this date:




















Buddha Day






Hana Matsuri, or Flower Festival, in Japan









Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest boards for:
And here are my Pinterest boards for:

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