Thread: Gypsies

Somehow, we have a population of gypsies in the area I'm from. They form a part of the weird pastiche of European-based ethnicities in the Western MD/Eastern WV/Southwestern PA region, along with Mennonites and Amish, among others.

Apparently the next episode of TLC's My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding will feature a fight on the steps between the bridesmaid and the bride of a West Virginian gypsy wedding. I'm so proud.

In addition, I might not even be here if it weren't for gypsies, according to family lore. My Italian dad's maternal grandparents were planning on just staying in the US for a short period of time while they save up some money. However, a gypsy fortune teller told my great-grandmother that she will die over water, and thus to avert death my great-grandparents never went to Italy again, but instead established their family here in the US. (Incidentally, my great-grandmother did die "over water"--namely, a water-filled steam heat radiator.)

I know a couple of other incidents that have established their reputation in the area. For instance, in an area Catholic funeral home, they had a rather unusual gypsy wake that apparently included a lot of cooked chicken and alcohol. The room was absolutely trashed afterwards. Also, I know that there have been gypsies crime and fraud scares, one of which had gypsies going to door-to-door (I don't remember the details, nor do I remember if any of them were real).

Anyone else here know about weird gypsy incidents in their area or anything similar?