The Romani are a group of people who travel around and lead a nomadic life. Although most of them live in Central and Eastern Europe they can be found on every continent. About 12 million Romani live in our world today.

The Romani originally lived in India. They left their homeland about a thousand years ago because Muslims invaded India and forcedthem to move away. After wandering across Persia and Turkey, the Romani reached Europe by about 1300. By 1500 they settled in the Balkans and from there spread to Western Europe.

Romani people are often called gypsies because people thought they came from Egypt. Most of them, however, think that this term isdiscriminating and don’t like being called that way.

Romani families are usually very big. More children mean a high status among Romani. Young and old often live and work together in the same family. Romani men and women marry at a very young age. After that they stay with their family.

The Romani traditionally travelled in caravans. Wherever they stopped they set up tents and stayed there for some time. AlthoughEuropeans, at first, greeted the Romani in a friendly way they later became suspicious because they thought that the Romani were thieves who stole things and did not work. They were considered outsiders and many governments did not care about them. Some countries even passed laws that forbade them to stop.

Romani people made a living by doing things they were good at. They were horse dealers, repaired household items and carvedobjects out of wood. Many Romani were good singers, played instruments and acted well. Women were fortune tellers and cared forthe animals they took with them.