Are they Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Pagan, Atheist, WHAT?
(apologies if this is a double-post)
The term Gypsy is now considered derogatory. I believe Romani is the proper term.
As to your question-IIRC Many are Catholic. Although like some other groups they venerate some saints not recognized by the church, including “Black Sarah”.
Microsoft Encarta says that they usually adopt the religion of the country they live in. I think they (Gypsies, Romani) can also be referred to as “Roma”. Since they originated in India, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to find Hindu influences in their adopted religions.
The people I’ve met who called themselves Roma (in England) were catholics.
As far as I know, most are nominal members of Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodoxy, or Islam. The Ottoman Turks did spread Islam among Balkan Gypsies.
But most Roma or Sinte also follow traditions that are connected to their ancestral Hindu-Aryan faith…for instance many believe in avoiding “pollution”, and revere horses and cattle. A lot of stereotypical “Gypsy” traits come from these beliefs, such as fortune telling.
By the way, I don’t know if Gypsy is so much offensive as innaccurate.
There was a thread on this subject last year that the OP may find useful - link
DocCathode mentioned Black Sarah, or Kali Sara as she is known in Romani. You’ll find more information about her here.
I would take exception to the idea that Romanies only follow a religion nominally. It was true in the past when, for example, it was most unwise to not appear to be Christian. In these more modern times, however, religious Romanies have as much depth of faith as non-Romani people.
Kal
Thank you very much! The page on Kali Sara was fascinating.