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BERICHT
Wir, Andrea Hiemetzberger und Michael Baerecke besuchten
heuer endlich den Appleby Horse Fair. Am 4.6.09 erlebten wir die Anreise der
Gypsie´s und Travellers nach Appleby in Westmorland und sahen schon eine Menge
Tinker bzw. Coloured Cobs. Von 5.6. – 7.6.09 werden aber all unsere Erwartungen
weit übertroffen. Diese Vielfalt von Cobs und deren einwandfreies Interieur
waren einfach überwältigend. An allen 5 Tagen waren wir von 8 Uhr morgens bis
21 Uhr abends unterwegs um keinen einzigen Tinker oder Cob zu versäumen. Am
8.6.2009 konnten wir dann mit Herrn Thompson seinen Fellponyhengst begutachten,
er
zeigte uns seine Stutenherde mit den Fohlen, und die frei lebende Herde am
Fell. Es war sehr eindrucksvoll und informativ. Für die kurze Zeit unseres
Besuches in Cumbria haben wir sehr viele Eindrücke nach Haus mitgenommen.
FOTOALBEN
VIDEOS
Über Gypsies und Travellers
There are a number of
different Gypsy groups visiting the Fair. The Romani Gypsies, or Romani Chal,
are an ethnic group made up of extended families, whose origins are traced back
to Northern India over 1 000 years ago. Each extended family will have its own
Head Gypsy or Sheara Rom.
The second major group is the Travellers. Their ethnic origins are unclear, but
it is widely thought that they were in Britain before 1506, when the first
Romani arrived in Scotland. It has been suggested that the ancestors of the
Travellers brought ironworking and blacksmithing into Britain. The Travellers
share a very similar culture to the Romani, however, their ethnic origin is
different, and therefore they belong to different families. The Traveller
community also includes Irish Travellers, Scottish Travellers and Welsh
Gypsies, (who call themselves Kale, and who have been in Britain since about
1400). Each of these cultures has its own distinct family groups.
There is some intermarrying between Traveller families and Gypsy families, and
they share a number of common characteristics – for example skill with horses,
strongly defined gender roles, and strong moral values regarding courtship, the
sanctity of marriage, and loyalty and honour.
In addition to these ethnic groups, there is another large group who are not
part of the Gypsy and Traveller families, but who have adopted Gypsy ways. They
are not ‘blood’ Gypsies, but ‘new’ Travellers.
Visitors to the Fair may well hear a variety of languages being spoken there.
As well as English, many speak Romany and you might also hear English Cant,
Irish Cant, Shelta, Welsh Romani, as well as French and German, as the visiting
families are widely spread over Europe.
There is Gypsy and Traveller representation on the committee which looks after
statutory responsibilities, so that problems can be addressed and sorted out
where possible within the Gypsy and Traveller community.
Because of the diverse nature of the Gypsy and Traveller population, these
representatives on the committee do not wield absolute power, or a magic wand,
but because the Fair is such a vital and important part of their culture, they
have a real interest is seeing it continue, and so will go to some lengths to
help solve genuine problems where and when they arise.
Appleby Fair coincides with
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month, which is designed to help people
understand and celebrate the role Britain’s 300,000 Gypsies, Roma and
Travellers have played in living, working and travelling throughout Britain
for the last 500 years. (Copyright © 2009 Appleby Fair Strategic Group)
Links
Text: Andrea Hiemetzberger, Fotos+Videos: Andrea
Hiemetzberger, Michael Baerecke
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