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Where did we come from?
Among the Gypsies there was a small group of Romas, who called themselves the Antareepa's. They consisted of artisans, story tellers, herbalist, and fortune tellers. However, they didn't call themselves fortune tellers but readers of the stars. We just laughed it off as one of their "other stories". I was often wondering why they were so particular what it was called? The name Fortune teller makes more sense, because they were telling the future. They argued they are not telling the future, but were reading the stars. They never used tarot cards or any other tools like reading palm or tea leaves. Sometimes they did use the crystal ball, but most of the time they just looked at you (rather stared then looked) and tell you what will happen in the future. What to watch out for, what herb and food to have and what you should and should not worry about. Strange. Anyway, one day this story was told that I can never forget. We as children had many questions, among them "Where did we come from?" Well, of course the first things that come to mind is that we were interested in the birds and the bees. Not we. We were interested where was our country? How did we end up traveling the world? So,one warm night sitting around the camp fire whilst the dinner was cooking, they were telling this story.
We come from the place called Arin. It was at time when everything was covered with snow, except a few places, which included Arin. It was a place of dreams, where we Roma all leaved as a nation. Poverty was unknown and everyone was equal. There was no difference between a farmer or an artisan as both occupation considered important and necessary. Without the farmer we would not eat and without the artisan we would not enjoy our free time after a hard day work. Arin was pleasantly worm and the plants grew fast and toll. It was a land of plenty, with vibrant cities and full of life. The market was buzzing, women wearing colorful clothes, sellers over shouting one another to sell their produce. Those days the science of reading the stars was very important. We used it for our day to day activities and also to for tell when it will be drought so we could store our food and wait it out. The houses were made of mud and were 3-5 story high. Mud houses are the best (he nodded) as they are worm in winter and cool at summer. The buildings were painted brilliant white and decorated with carvings. Whilst inside the walls were painted with figures according to each house holder's lifestyle. If you were a musician, you would paint your wall with different musical scenery, dancing figures, and if you were a farmer, you painted your landscape and the farming activities whilst the fisherman, painted ocean scenes. So, when guests arrived the first thing they did is study the wall paintings and compliment on the host's talent, which started up a conversation about the host's interest whilst drinking mutra. When the guest left, they all received a small version of the mural painted on a leather. The more collection of these paintings you had, the more likely you can become someone who can look after the the city fair.
The borders of Arin was open to everyone who wished to adopt our lifestyle and laws. Many different people come of many colors, from black to white. It was a wonderful time, everyone leaved in peace and harmony, until the Gopayati arrived, we called them the Raksas. The Raksas never went close to a star reader, they kept far away and the readers could not read them as it was against purity law to read someone's fortune without being asked to do so. If this law didn't exist, we would still have a home, because they could of warn us about the danger we were about to face.
It didn't happen all at once, but slowly over many years. At first they created division among man by convincing them that their job is better then the other and they should not even talk to those people who are considered less. They managed to take over many farms by cunning them and hired the landless farmer to work for them for next to nothing. Later they become the leaders of our land, creating their own laws and religion. They were ruthless rulers and enslaved us. That's when the readers of the stars got together to decide of the future. They all agreed that one of us will have to be sacrificed and look into the future for many thousand of years. What will happen to us Roma and to other man. It was a sacrifice because no man can survive when breaking the purity law without consequences and to see that far ahead into the future can even result in death. One old and brave Roma, called Darzanaaya Labhate stood up and said. I will do it as I have leaved a long life, I'm over 110. He looked like he was only 40 yrs old, as his hair was still black and his face did not show age. We got him ready for the big task of asking the stars and left him at the temple for the long night of seeing. The next morning, when everyone was still sleeping we went to see Labhate, who now with gray hair and rinkles on his face aged so much we thought he will die any minute. We gave him food, to gain some srength then he looked at us in tears and begin telling what the stars have said:
The Raksas will not stop with our land Arin. They will take many lands, and in their greed will destroy man and the land. They will set up boundaries, creating countries and division of labor. Mother earth will suffer the Raksas will cut out her forest, stop rivers from flooding starving her to death, then invent machines to destroy the air, then the ocean. This will bring poverty, hunger and war. Many will die, then children will not be born and those who does will not live long. Which will bring the end at two hundred of the two.The only hope is to leave Arin to warn man of this danger, to look after mother earth. We listened with great sadness and disbelief. How can the Raksas bring the end to himself and to all man? Are they so greedy and ignorant?
The dinner finished cooking and the story was finished fast with this: Well, children that's why we left our country and travel. To look after earth.
This story was told by my uncle who was a bit short from a childhood disease. :)
The Story of Joka, Gypsy Fairy Tales, Romani Stories
When I was a child we didn't have TV for entertainment and my father use to tell us stories instead. This is one of those stories...
Long long time ago there was a young Gypsy boy called Joka. (Pronounced Yhoka) He lived with his family at the edge of the forest. They were very poor, on top of that god blessed them with so many children that they could not count them. Joka was the youngest and a very lazy boy. He did not help his father, instead he slept all day by the chimney corner's warmth. His father asked him.. Joka why don't you do something? What's going to become of you if you don't help? You....! Good for nothing lazy boy! Joka did not listen or care, just turned around and continued to rest.... One day, fed up with his father's nagging decided to get some wood from the forest. He gathered as much as they needed for the day and thought he'll have some rest and set down.
Suddenly a windstorm passed through and blew his hat off. He chased it but by the time caught up with it he was deep in the forest and was lost. Joka walked for hours staggering among rocks trying to find his way home when suddenly he fell into a hole. He looked around and realized he was in a cave. He ventured inside thinking he might find something to eat when he come across a midget. He had long and white beard that was sweeping the ground. The old man greeted him and said. 'I'm the treasure keeper and I'm in this cave for a very long time, I was cursed to mind the treasure and never leave this cave for the rest of my life.. You are the first man that I've seen for many many years. How is the world outside? He asked. Joka told him about his life and how he got lost in the forest chasing his hat. They've talked, ate and drunk together till morning and the midget become found of Joka and said 'Thank you for the good time and for my appreciation I would like you to have some of this treasure', pointing to the pile of gold, diamonds and rare jewels. But Joka had no idea of the value of gold or diamond. He had no interest to take any of it until he saw something shaped like an egg. Thinking they were eggs indeed he filled his shirt with them. Joka thanked the old man for his kindness and left the cave to continue on his journey.
Not far from the cave he saw a little creek. It was the same creek that was running next to his house. He started to walk by the shore whistling happily, thinking he have found the way home. He walked for hours and the little creek become a river and Joka found himself in a town. He never been in a town so he walked around amazed when he found an Inn. Being exhausted from site seeing he asked the inn keeper for a place to rest. The owner showed him into the nicest room with the most comfortable bed. Joka fall asleep but soon woke up because the bed was strange to him.. at home he got use to sleeping on the floor. So, he made himself comfortable on the floor and fall into a deep sleep. Meanwhile the inn keeper was talking with his wife about the Coal Prince from the neighboring country how he goes into different towns dressing up as common man to help poor people. The inn keeper was wondering if Joka was that prince in incognito and he asked his wife to check on him. She carefully peaced in Joka's room and found him sleeping on the floor and something very bright and shiny peaking out of his shirt. She thought "he must be the prince! No one else has that kind of wealth and finds our most comfortable bed uncomfortable". She run to her husband with the news "that man sleeping upstairs is definitely the Coal Prince!".
The inn keeper felt proud and privileged that the prince chose his humble establishment to rest. Trying to make a good impression on the Coal Prince he ordered a carriage for the morning to take the prince to the palace and bought the finest clothes for him replacing the ragged ones. He also sent a messenger to tell the king the good news that the Coal Prince is arriving to his palace as a guest. In the morning Joka was looking for his old clothes but couldn't find it, so he had no other choice but to put on the ones that the inn keeper left in his room. Than he went downstairs to have some breakfast. He looked astonishing in the fine clothes, nobody could tell he wasn't a prince. The inn keeper could hardly recognize him. After he finished eating the inn keeper told him that a carriage is waiting for him to take him home. Joka thanked his kindness and said.. I don't have much to give you in return for your service but here is an egg for a down payment and I'll return to pay the rest. The inn keeper and his wife was speechless for receiving such a rare and expensive diamond.. they've just become very wealthy! Still in shock they throw themselves on the ground crying and thanking Joka for his generosity.. Meanwhile Joka was wondering.. what was wrong with these people? Everyone went insane in this town?
Joka set in the carriage thinking this time he's really going home but instead he found himself in front of a castle. There was a big reception waiting for him and the king himself greeted him. Joka got scared and was about to run away when he saw the king's daughter Rozanna. She was the most beautiful girl he has ever seen and could not take his eyes of her and just stood there like a statue staring at her beauty. He instantly fall in love with her. The king noticed his attraction to his daughter and thought happily.. "My treasury is almost empty, if he marries my daughter his riches will help me out of debt".
The king showed him into the reception room where they served the best food and wine, but Joka didn't eat anything. Instead he asked the king if he could go into the kitchen to cook something that he use to at home. Joka made some bocholy (gypsy bread) then he started to cook the main course.. one row sour crout, one row meat and repeated the rows until the pot was full.. he finished it with hot spice and a thick saute on top and set down to eat. The king become curious what could this food be?.. he tasted it and it was to his liking.. but started to wonder.. how can a noble man, a prince dirty his hands with cooking? And he begin to doubt Joka's identity. He told his daughter about his suspicion. Rozanna asked his father to take Joka to the chapel and said "if he is a prince he'll know exactly what to do during the ceremony". The king agreed. He thought it was a good plan. But what the king didn't know is that Rozanna fall in love with the handsome Gypsy boy and she told Joka when they go to the chapel to do exactly as her father does.
The next day they entered the church and Joka didn't take his hat off as everyone else did. The king whispered to him. "Take your hat off!" Joka replied "Take your hat off" - Joka wasn't just doing what the king did but what he said he said the same as well - Whilst the king thought Joka was paying respect to him and he only takes his hat off after him. Joka kept following precisely what the king did. When the king stood up, so did he. When he sat down, so did he. When the king accidentally dropped his prayer book, so did he and when the king discreetly let go a wind so did he.
Joka's manner satisfied the king and come to a conclusion that he must be the Coal Prince. Only a blue-blooded gentleman can exhibit such good manners. After church Rozanna and Joka went to the palace's garden to take a walk and Joka told her everything about himself.. then he showed the eggs he brought from the cave with him. Rozanna looked at them and enlightened Joka what rare and expensive diamonds he is carrying.. she said "Joka you are the most wealthy man even among kings". Rozanna warned him not to tell anyone what he just told her and said "if you do tell you won't be able to marry me because of your common blood". Joka only heard the part when she said "marry me" and felt giddy from happiness and straight away proposed to her. Rozanna excepted the proposal and the very next day they were married.
Rozanna taught Joka to read and write and everything that a prince has to know. Joka was very bright and he mastered all knowledge and elegance in a few short month whilst Rozanna learned everything about Roma culture and tradition in fascination. Rozanna and Joka was happily married and a year past when Joka started to worry about "home"... "my parents don't know if I'm dead or alive, in my happiness I forgot all about my family". Joka told Rozanna his concern and said "I'm going to visit them and bring them here to leave with us".
Early in the morning Joka left the palace. As he was traveling through the forest a fallen tree was blocking the road and the horses couldn't go any further. He got out of the carriage to investigate and just then robbers jumped out the bushes and took everything even his clothes. Joka was standing in his underwear in the middle of the forest and he had no other choice but to continue on as he was in his under garment. It was evening when he arrived to his house. Joka's father was standing front of it smoking his pipe as he always did. "Nothing has changed since I have left" thought Joka smiling. He greeted his father.. "I'm back" he said but his father didn't respond for a while. He just stared at him like he would of seen a ghost. Then he embraced Joka. "My son! He cried "I thought you were dead! Is it really you? he couldn't believe his own eyes. The whole family started to celebrate his return. Whilst they were eating and drinking Joka began to tell his adventure from the time he lost the hat till he married the princess. "What? You are a prince?" they laughed "I think you not only lost your clothes but your mind as well".
Joka didn't say a word.. he had no proof of anything, neither he could go back to the palace without his carriage and money and also the shame of being robbed.
Meanwhile Rozanna was waiting for Joka's return "A month past since he left he should be home by now". she worried "I'll go and find him". She dressed up as a priest and went from town to town asking if anyone seen a carriage passing through. Nobody saw or heard anything. Rozanna come to a forest and in the middle of the forest set down on a fallen tree to get some rest when she noticed a trail. Rozanna followed the trail and it lead her to a ruin and front of it Joka's carriage. From the ruins the sound of celebration echoed. The thieves noticed the priest standing outside and they invited him to join. Rozanna joined in the celebration and said "my children, do you have anything to confess? It'll relief your souls from eternal condemnation". The thefts confessed one by one and Rozanna found out what happened to her husband. She sneaked some sleeping portion into the wine and waited till everyone was deep asleep. Then she took back everything they've stole. "Now I'll have to find that little creek Joka told me about and it should take me to his house". It didn't take long to find it. Joka's father saw the priest coming toward the house and he panicked "oh my goodness a priest is not a good sign, it means bad luck when he comes to the house!". Joka's father was shaking from fear when the priest come up to him and asked "I'm looking for Joka does he leave here?" Joka's father replied "please leave my son in peace, he had enough trouble. He isn't quite himself, he thinks he is a prince." "If you let me talk to him he'll get better" assured Rozanna the old man. "Well father, if you think you can help, come in, but I worn you he won’t talk to anyone". They went inside and Joka's father called out "Wake up son! A priest come to see you". "I don't want to talk to anyone!" replied Joka. Then Rozanna whispered to Joka "it's me, Rozanna!" Joka jumped up hugging and kissing her whilst his parents stood there worried and confused.. they thought their son lost his already demented mind kissing a priest. Rozanna took her priest clothes off and explained everything to Joka's family whilst Joka changed into his fine clothes. The parents could not believe their eyes when their son transformed into a prince front of them. Then Joka opened the chest of treasure that Rozanna got back from the robbers and give it to his parents. He asked them to come and leave with him in the palace but the parents refused.. "we got use to here and wouldn't be comfortable leaving in a palace" they explained.
Joka built them a comfortable house right there and returned with Rozanna to leave in the palace. A year later Rozanna give birth to a son David. He was a very lazy boy he just played games all day and didn't want to do anything else. His father tried to talk to him many times. "David! Why don't you do something? What's going to be of you if you don't help? You....! Good for nothing lazy boy!" David did not listen or care. He just turned around and continued to play games...
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