The show not only became a national addiction, it also widespread debate about this secretive and often-misunderstood community.
But aside from the extravagant jewel-encrusted dresses and big hair, how much do you really know about Gyspies and Travellers?
Here are 10 key things to get you started -
1. There are two types of Gypsies – Roma Gypsies and Irish Travellers. Both have a nomadic lifestyle but are separate ethnic groups.
2. There is much debate about their history, however Romany Gypsies are said to have their roots in India and came to Europe in the 13th century, while Travellers are mainly of Irish origin.
3. Irish Travellers used to be referred to as ‘tinkers.’ A tinker is a skillful person that mends pots, pans and plates of locals as they move from place to place. Travellers refer to non-travellers as “settled people”.
4. Travellers used to be okay with being called ‘gypsy; until the word ‘gypo’ became a common insult. The term ‘pikey’ is also very offensive to Travellers (comes from the word ‘pike’). They often call each other ‘pavees’ among themselves.
5. Some Travelling communities use a language known as the Cant or ‘Shelta’. It includes ‘back slang’ words such as ‘gop’, for kiss, which is a reversal of the Irish word “pog”.
6. Woman are conisdered ‘on the shelf’ at 20 and many Traveller women marry as teenagers. Many Traveller men expect their wives to be virgins when they marry.
7. Young traveller girls have a strict Roman Catholic upbringing. Talking back to elders is unacceptable.
8. Large families are still very much the norm, with some couples having over 10 children.
9. While there are no official statistics for Travellers in the UK, there are an estimated 300,000 based on local government caravan counts.
10. While the original Irish Travellers lived in horse-drawn wagons and travelled, most today live in caravans on official sites provided by a local authroity.
I love the Gypsy culture! I'm doing a project on it, and I have learned so many cool and interesting things! I want to be a Gypsy!!
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i cant beleave how stupid the people is on my big fat gypsy wedding thay make reall gypsys look bad thos girls on the show is nothing but skhanks thay r not reall gypsys there wanna be gypsys thay dont have respect like us and dont speak gypsy like us
Oops! *as *that ... Damn iPhone finger typing...
This is a disappointing comment to read. The travellers in the documentary have been in the British Isles for about 500 years or more. Of course they don't speak "gypsy" a you say. It is really racist to say they are not real. How would you know? It is commonly accepted the the English romanichal people do not look like the Roma people found in Europe. Further, the Irish travellers are of Irish origin. Lastly, it is wrong to label the girls as skanks. Perhaps you should spend less time judging others and improving your spelling and grammar!
id love to be a traveler wife.i think they look stunning.
I'm a gypsy a Roma gypsy and most people think where bad people where are not we love to party and dance and sing and have fun no courses and scamming that's old time 1700s now we our just like any other race of people ya there's bad ones but there's more good ones
Could you elaborate on this thing called "barenuckle boxing" and how common it is in your culture now?
I actually find it interesting.
very interesting facts
it is an awsome show i love gyspies and travelers because thier awsome and cool i consider myslef a gyspy so there ha. :)
U cant just bcom one of us u hav to b born into the culture
You can send them my way to make their wedding dresses
seems to me travelers have better morals and most can learn from that. they are proud, loyal and honorable people from what i've learned from the show.
I agree with you....my slavic background is filled with gypsy anecdotes....
i love the show it good to know about other people and the way they live i wish i was a gypsie