Roma - Gypsy culture - holocaust

This is a roadside dumping area, with Roma (gypsy ethnic group) looking for clothing, anything that can be repaired and resold, or used. The gypsy population was decimated in World War II. Read about gypsies at For a basic history of gypsies, see www.gypsy-traveller.org/history/index. Do a search for gypsies .

We also saw many well-dressed Roma, traditional costume and gold.

Roma are countrywide, and have had a difficult history, including centuries (past) of enslavement in Romania and discrimination now. See "Minorities at Risk" at www.cidcm.umd.edu/inscr/mar/data/rumroma. More background on Roma: go to the e-museum that the University of Minnisota offers at http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/oldworld/europe. Then click on Roma. Go to the main home page first, and see all they offer in other areas.

The holocaust in Romania was directed at Roma and Jews and other groups. Read about the holocaust in Romania at www1.yadvashem.org/about_yad/what_new/index_whats_new-report.html. The holocaust was officially remembered in Romania in 2006. See www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/09/europe/EU_GEN_Romania_Holocaust_Victims.php. Read its history at hist.academic.claremontmckenna.edu/jpetropoulos/ironguard/holocaust.htm. In the town of Moisei, see post here on Maramures, there is a special memorial, but no break-down of which of those killed were Jewish.

Keeping diaries of those times requires literacy and then preservation, discovery and translation - for me, into English. "The Diary of Petr Ginz 1941-1942," edited by his sister, Chava Pressburger, was discovered in 1993 but only translated into English in 2007. See The Places of Petr Ginz. See also Petr Ginz: The Places, The Legacy. Are there diaries in Romanian?

I was not comfortable taking pictures of the Roma girls or women. They are easily seen in doorways, windows, on the street with a companion, with families. I understand they are strongly protected. The clothing was exquisite in the economically advantaged groups, fine cars, great style - as anywhere where there is financial and cultural confidence for the individual. Others are very poor, but resourceful in picking out clothing and other useful items from throw-aways, and fixing and selling them.

Children beg, but a strong body language "no" - including flat palms crossing and flung out, usually brought the adult from a doorway nearby to signal a cease.