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Scottish Romani are theRomani people of Scotland. This includesRomanichal (locally also known asBorder Gypsies) andLowland Romani (Lowland Gypsies).[1]
Scottish Travellers are non-Romani groups indigenous to Scotland who live or traditionally lived anomadic lifestyle, including ScottishHighland Travellers, Scottish Lowland Travellers andShowmen (Funfair Travellers). These groups have distinct histories and traditions.[1]
Scottish Romani and Traveller groups are considered part of theGypsy, Roma and Traveller community.[2]
The Romani people, also known asRoma orGypsies, are an ethnic group ofIndo-Aryan origin. The Romani people in Scotland are mainly Lowland Romani, Romanichal and Roma migrants frommainland Europe. Over the last few generations, the common generic termGypsies (derived from an old folk belief that the Romani originated in Egypt) is sometimes seen as pejorative.[3]
The most common overarching modern terms in English for non-Romani travelling groups in Scotland areScottish Travellers orTravelling Folk, though various specific groups have more particular names in English and otherwise (see below). TheScots language equivalents areTraivellers orTraivellin Fowk. TheScottish Gaelic term isLuchd Siubhail orLuchd-siubhail ('Travelling Folk', literally 'People [of] Travel'), or more specificallyLuchd-siubhailAlbannach ('Scottish Traveling Folk').[4]
The settled British (and Irish) population have often referred to all such populations in the British Isles asTinkers (originally meaning anitinerant tinsmith), a name now often considered pejorative, with more contemptuous derivates such asTinks andTinkies.[5] This English and Scots term has acognate in GaelicTincearan (singularTincear[d]), and equivalent terms have been used throughout Western Europe to refer locally to similar populations, owing to their historically frequent work in repairing household objects. Another generally dismissive term throughout Britain isPikeys (alsoPikies,Pykies; popularized widely even beyond the UK by the 2000 filmSnatch). The also-pejorativeKnackers (a reference tolivestock rendering, a low-desire form of work often foisted on Travellers) has become uncommon.
Ròmanaich | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| ≈ 20,000[6] | |
| Languages | |
| Scottish Cant |
Lowland Romani, or Lowland Gypsies, are a Romani subgroup in the Scottish Lowlands. They are not to be confused with Scottish Lowland Travellers, who are an indigenous people. Despite their distinct origins and cultures, Lowland Gypsies and Scottish Lowland Travellers are often grouped together as “Lowland Gypsy/Travellers”. It is believed that Lowland Gypsies share a common ancestry with the Romanichal,[7] and, as with theKalé of Wales, their language diverged from that of the Romanichal. Although they have mixed with indigenous Travelling groups in Scotland over centuries, Lowland Romani have retained theirRomani culture and dialect[8]
They are closely related to the Romani groups of England, Wales, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. They speakScottish Cant (also known asScots Romani) a para-Romani language-mix of Scots and Romani, similar toAngloromani andScandoromani.[9][10]
There is written evidence for the presence of Roma in the Scottish Lowlands as early as 1505, when – during the reign ofJames IV – an entry in a book kept by the Lord High Treasurer records a payment of fourshillings to a Peter Ker to take a letter from the king atHunthall, to the "King of Rowmais". Two days later, the King authorised a payment of £20 to a messenger from the "King of Rowmais".[11][12] In 1530, a group of Romanies danced before the Scottish king at theHolyrood Palace and a Romani herbalist called Baptista cured the king of an ailment.[12] However,James V sent letters to his regional officials and clergy to expel the "Egiptianes" in July 1541[13]
Romani migration to Scotland continued during the 16th century and several groups of Romanies were accepted there after being expelled from England.[14][15] ThePrivy Council of Scotland made a proclamation in April 1573 ordering the "Egiptianis", who had been permitted to wander up and down the country, either to leave Scotland, or to settle in one place and take up a trade.[16]
Records in Dundee from 1651 documented the migrations of small groups of people called "Egyptians" in the Highlands, noted to be of the same nature as the Gypsies in England.[17] By 1612, Romani communities were recorded to exist as far north asScalloway in theShetland Islands.[14][18]
TheKàlo, a Romani group inFinland, maintain that their ancestors were originally a Romani group who travelled to Finland fromScotland;[19] this is because the Kàlo and theRomanisæl of Norway and Sweden are distantly related to present-day Romanichal, Kalé and Lowland Romani, with all of these groups having common ancestry, being descended from the Romani who arrived in Britain in the sixteenth century.
Romani people in the south of Scotland enjoyed the protection of the Roslyn family and made an encampment within theRoslyn castle grounds. However, as with its neighbour England, the Scottish parliament passed an act in 1609 against Romani groups known as the “Act against the Egyptians”;[15] which made it lawful to condemn, detain and execute Gypsies if they were known or reputed to be ethnically Romani.[14]
Scotland has had aRomani population for at least 500 years; they are a distinct group from the Highland Travellers. Lowland Romani Gypsies share a common heritage with Romanichal and Kalé. They enjoyed a privileged place in Scottish society until theReformation, when their wandering lifestyle and exotic culture brought severe persecution upon them.[20]
Romanichal Gypsies from the north of England, mainly inNewcastle-Upon-Tyne andCumbria, commonly travel into the Scottish Borders. The annual gathering atAppleby Horse Fair could be considered part of the common culture that Lowland Romani living in the Lowlands and Border Romanichal living in the Scottish Borders share with the UK's other Romani groups.[21]
Romanichal communities known as Border Gypsies exist in the Scottish borders. Speaking Northern Angloromani and following Romanichal traditions and customs, they are linguistically and historically culturally identical to the Romanichal communities in northern England. Romanichal from the north of England, mainly inNewcastle-Upon-Tyne andCumbria, also commonly travel into the Scottish Borders. They live in separate and distinct communities from Lowland Gypsies.Gypsies, Roma and Travellers: A Contemporary Analysis[22]
Romanichal traders in Scotland were upwardly mobile. By 1830, they travelled to the potteries in Staffordshire, buying china and other goods and selling the items chiefly in Northumberland while based inKirk Yetholm inRoxburghshire.[23]
By 1874, these Gypsies were commented on as "Having physical markers in their dusky complexion that is characteristically Gypsy...and...a language that is clearly Romani".[24]
Some Romanichal from Scotland are members of Romani organisations based in England.[7] Scottish Romanichal are known locally as Border Gypsies.[7][25][26]
The Lowland Romani speak a mixed language ofScots andRomani calledScottish Cant (also known as Scots-Romani or Scotch-Romani) which includes up to 50% words of Romani origin, mostlyAngloromani origin words.[28]
Scottish Lowland Travellers are a traditionally nomadic group indigenous to the Scottish Lowlands.[29]
Scottish Highland Travellers anethno-cultural group in Scotland. They are culturally and linguistically distinct from the Roma people of Scotland. Unlike the Roma in Scotland, Scottish Highland Travellers are of indigenous origin.[30] A poetic English name for them is theSummer Travellers. InScottish Gaelic, they may be called theCeàrdannan ('Craftsmen'), related to theTinkers usage.[31] Any of the overarching terms for Scottish Travelling Folk in English, Gaelic, or Scots are sometimes also applied to them, along with the rather pejorative termBlack Tinkers.[31]
Adam Smith, the economist and philosopher, was reportedly kidnapped by Highland Travellers at a young age before quickly being freed.[32][33]
The Highland Travellers' speech includes a dialect calledBeurla Reagaird orBeurla-reagaird. It is related to the Irish TravellerShelta as acreole of theGaelic language group. It has been used as a cultural identifier, just as Romani groups used the Romani language. Like the Highland Travellers themselves, the language is not related to Romani.[34]
The Highland Traveller community has a long history in Scotland going back, at least in record, to the 12th century as a form of employment and one of the first records of that name states a "James the Tinker" held land in the town of Perth from 1165 to 1214.[24][35] Highland Travellers share a similar heritage, although are distinct from, theIrish Travellers. As with their Irish counterparts, there are several theories regarding the origin of Scottish Highland Travellers; some that have been claimed at different times are that they are descended from thePicts,[35] originated asexcommunicated clergy,[35] were families fleeing theHighland potato famine, or represent a population displaced by theNorman Invasion or prior socio-political disruptions.[35] Highland Travellers are distinct both culturally and linguistically from other Gypsy groups like theRomani (including the British and ScandinaviaRomanichal, Lowland Scottish Gypsies, Eastern EuropeanRoma, andWelsh Kale groups). Several other European groups are also non-Romani, namely theYeniches,Woonwagenbewoners in the Netherlands (who may be related to the Yeniche), indigenous Norwegian Travellers, andLandfahrer in Germany. As with indigenous Norwegian Travellers, Highland Travellers' origins may be more complex and difficult to ascertain, as they left no early written records of their own.
As an indigenous group, Highland Travellers have played an essential role in the preservation of traditional Gaelic culture.[36] It is estimated that as few as 2,000 Highland Travellers continue to lead their traditional lifestyle on the roads.
TravellingShowmen, also known as Funfair Travellers or Fairground Travellers and sometimes ascarnies are a community ofoccupational travellers, who do not form an ethnic group but an occupational and organisationalsubculture, which can be categorised broadly as a business community of travelling shows, circus and carnival communities, and fairground families. Occupational travellers travel for work across Scotland, England, Wales and into continental Europe. The show/fairground community is close knit, with ties often existing between them and the olderRomanichal families, although showmen families are a distinct, multi-ethnic group and have a vibrant social scene organised around both the summer fairs and the various sites and yards used as winter quarters. Many Scottish show and fairground families live in winter communities based mainly in the east end of Glasgow. Housing an estimated 80% of all British show families, Glasgow is believed to have the largest concentration of showmen quarters inEurope, mostly inShettleston,Whiteinch, andCarntyne.[38]
Showmen families have a strong cultural identity asBritish showmen, dating back to 1889 and the formation of theShowmen's Guild of Great Britain and Ireland. Those in Scotland are known within the broader showmen tradition in the UK as the "Scottish section".[39] As with other showmen communities, they call non-travellers (but not other distinct travelling groups includingRomanichal,Roma, Scottish Lowland Travellers, Highland Travellers, or Irish Travellers) asflatties in their ownPolari language.[40] The label offlattie-traveller can include showmen who have left the community to settle down and lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Fairs in Scotland have been held from the early Middle Ages, and traditionally brought together the important elements of medieval trade and a festival. Many of the common markets and fairs are rooted in ancient times, from the medieval period or earlier, and are said to be "prescriptive fairs". Other fairs will have been granted a royal charter to cement their importance and secure their future, and these are known ascharter fairs. In the middle ages, the royal charters gave the fairs legal status and developed their economic importance. The majority of fairs held in Scotland and the rest of theBritish Isles can trace their origins to charters granted in the medieval period. Traders would travel long distances to sell their goods, as did travelling musicians and entertainers who kept both the traders and customers entertained. In the thirteenth century, the creation of fairs by royal charter was widespread. Between 1199 and 1350, charters were issued granting the rights to hold markets or fairs.Kirkcaldy links market remains the longest-running funfair in Scotland, from a charter granted by Edward I in 1304. By the early 18th century, the livestock-market aspect of these Scottish charter fairs had diminished, with the focus shifting to amusement, and they evolved into the modern-day travelling fairs.[41]
The modern travelling showmen have as strong a family history and heritage as do their counterparts in Wales, England and Ireland. Fairs in Scotland are presented around the same time as they are in the rest ofGreat Britain andIreland with a similar mixture of Charter, Prescriptive and private business fairs. The run of fairs includeBuckie fair,Inverness,Kirkcaldy links market and the historic fairs held atDundee andArbroath. Annually a team of young showmen from both Scotland and England play an “internationalfootball match” known as the international,[42] where trophies and caps are held in high esteem. A Showman newspaper;World's Fair is in circulation and available to showmen and non showmen alike.[42]
The use of slang used by Showmen or Parlyaree, is based on acantslang spoken throughout the UK by Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish showfamilies. It is a mixture ofMediterranean Lingua Franca, Romani,Yiddish,CantLondon slang andbackslang. The language has been spoken in fairgrounds and theatrical entertainment since at least the seventeenth century.[43] As theatrical booths, circus acts and menageries were once a common part of European fairs it is likely that the roots of Polari/Parlyaree lie in the period before both theatre and circus became independent of the fairgrounds. The Parlyaree spoken on fairgrounds tends to borrow much more fromRomany, as well as other languages and argots spoken by other travelling groups, such ascant andbackslang.
Supported by local authorities and the widerUnited Kingdom Government, from the 1940s to 1980s a series of policies retroactively labelled as the "Tinker Experiment" were pursued.[44][45] The goal of these policies was to assimilate Travellers into the wider population by acclimatising them to "normal housing", preventing them from traditional nomadic practices.[44] This process involved the relocation of Scottish Traveller families into designated campsites across Scotland, including Aberdeenshire, Argyll, Highlands, Perthshire, Fife and the Scottish Borders.[44]
Families who resisted the move were reported to have been threatened with the removal of their children into social care.[44] The conditions on many of these sites were described as poor: the Bobbin Mill site inPitlochry originally featured prefabricated militaryNissen Huts with no electricity and coal-fired heating, with one family reporting "one bedroom for nine of us".[46]
The policies have been described by critics and former residents as a form ofcultural genocide, compared to similar policies carried out against other indigenous or minority groups, such theCanadian Indian residential school system.[46][45] In 2022, the Scottish SNP Government announced an independent report would be commissioned into the experiment.[46]
