Romany communities across Europe celebrate International Romany Day

Today, from Kosovo to San Francisco, flags will be flown and anthems will be sung. The Americans have July 4th (Independence Day), the Irish have March 17th (St Patrick’s day), and the world’s 12 million Romany citizens have April 8th as our national day. Many of us mark it, but many of us don’t, but it’s true to say that the further east you travel across Europe the greater the party will be.

The International Day of the Roma is a day to celebrate Romany culture and raise awareness of the issues facing Romany people. The day was officially declared in 1990 in Serock, Poland, the site of the fourth World Romany Congress of the International Romani Union (IRU), in honour of the first major international meeting of Romani representatives, 7-12 of April in 1971, in Chelsfield near London.

Like the international Romany flag and anthem “Gelem, Gelem”, the day is a symbol of Romany unity and survival across national boundaries which can be carried wherever you are. In honour of the spirit of that day, we’ve chosen today to launch Travellers' Times Online.

But in Britain, which is where international Romany politics started, there may be some people marking the day but there will be few public celebrations, vigils or demonstrations as there will be in other countries. Maybe it’s just the way the British are, few of us even know when St. Georges day is. Those that do celebrate the day are more likely to light a candle for those that have gone and sing a song for those yet to come. The words and song of Gelem Gelem are below for you to do the same.

But if you’re in London, take the time to go to the Le Quecumbar on Battersea High Street which is celebrating the day by hosting the Romany Diamonds.

“Three generations of one traditional authentic musical Gypsy Roma family, will be playing acoustic magic with fire and soul; amazing their audiences with back-to-front violin playing and soul searching ballads followed by musical Gypsy mayhem, a magical cocktail shaken not stirred that’s The Romany Diamonds,” promises Sylvia Rushbrooke, the clubs patron.

At the event virtuoso Polish Romany violinist Marek Czureja will be accompanied by Benjamin, his teenage son, on guitar as well as the  special appearance of Marek's father and Benjamin's grandfather on second violin. 

“Together they serve you traditional camp fire Gypsy music that makes the heart thump, the feet tap, the hands clap and invites you into the secret world of joyous Gypsy melodies that haunt and alight your mind.” Says Sylvia.

In the end, though, it doesn’t matter how you celebrate but that you do it at all. The Romany Gypsies of the world have no land, but we have a powerful past, vibrant culture and a will to survive that no one can ever extinguish. And as long as we have a song to sing and a day to sing it on, lets take a lung full of breathe and let it fly.

For more information, contact: Le QuecumBar & Brasserie
“London’s world premier Gypsy Swing venue”
42-44 Battersea High St
London SW11 3HX
0207 787 2227
info@quecumbar.co.uk
www.quecumbar.co.uk

Gelem, Gelem
Romani Anthem