Romani folklore encompasses thefolktales,myths,oral traditions, andlegends of theRomani people. The Romani werenomadic when they departedIndia during theMiddle Ages. They migrated widely, particularlyto Europe, while other groups stayed and became sedentary. Some legends (often from non-Romani peoples) say that certain Romani have passivepsychic powers such asempathy,precognition,retrocognition, orpsychometry. For example Wlislocki was known for being a self taught gypseologist, and many of his writings are seen as authentic Romani stories, but the myths published by Wlislocki have no connection to authentic Romani traditions; this causes a misinterpretation about the Romani people as a whole. Other legends include the ability tolevitate, travel throughastral projection by way ofmeditation, invokecurses orblessings,conjure orchannelspirits, and skill withillusion-casting. The Roma from Slavic countries believe inwerewolves.[1] Romani chovihanis often use a variety of herbs and amulets for protection.Garlic is a popular herb used by the Roma.[2]
Benedek Katalin; Angyal Katalin; Cserbák András, eds. (2001).A magyar népmese-katalógus bibliográfiája [Type and Motif-Index of Gypsy Folk-Literature](PDF). Magyar népmesekatalógus (in Hungarian and English). Vol. 10. Budapest: MTA Néprajzi Kutató Intézet.
Mode, Heinz[in German] (1984).Zigeunermärchen aus aller Welt (in German). Vol. 3. Wiesbaden: Insel Verlag.ISBN9783922383291.
Pavelčík, Nina; Pavelčík, Jiří (2001). "Myths of the Czech Gypsies".Asian Folklore Studies.60 (1):21–30.doi:10.2307/1178696.JSTOR1178696.. Accessed August 25, 2021.
Tong, Diane (1989).Gypsy folk tales. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Yates, Dora Esther (1948).A Book of Gypsy folk-tales. London: Phoenix House.