GYPSY PILGRIMAGE
Faith, religion and music play an important role in the Gypsy society.
Every year, in May, thousands of Gypsy people go on a pilgrimage to Les-Saintes-Marie de la Mer in Camargue, Southern France.
They arrive in caravans to celebrate Sainte Sarah, but other celebrations, weddings and religious ceremonies can also take place in that occasion.
Saint Sarah has been revered as a patron saint in the same manner as the Blessed Ceferino Gimenez Malla (the first martyr and Secular Franciscan Gypsy to be beatified). Ceferino was born in Fraga, Spain and he had a successful business, buying and selling horses. Ceferino and his wife had no children, though they adopted one of his wife’s nieces. He attended Mass frequently and joined the Secular Franciscan Order. Always generous to the poor, he was known as a reconciler among Gypsies.
A transition occurred in the 21st century, whereby “Sarah the Black or Kali Sara” is understood as an Indian deity brought by the refugee ancestors of the Romani people, thereby removing any Christian association. Saint Sarah is progressively being considered as a Romani Goddess and an indisputable link with the “Mother India”.
Another legend identifies her as the black Egyptian servant of Mary Jacobe, with whom she is supposed to have arrived, together with Salome, on the southern shore of Gaul at the place later called Saintes-Maries de la Mer. Sarah is portrayed as a charitable woman that helped people by collecting alms, which led to the popular belief that she was a Gypsy.
Read MoreEvery year, in May, thousands of Gypsy people go on a pilgrimage to Les-Saintes-Marie de la Mer in Camargue, Southern France.
They arrive in caravans to celebrate Sainte Sarah, but other celebrations, weddings and religious ceremonies can also take place in that occasion.
Saint Sarah has been revered as a patron saint in the same manner as the Blessed Ceferino Gimenez Malla (the first martyr and Secular Franciscan Gypsy to be beatified). Ceferino was born in Fraga, Spain and he had a successful business, buying and selling horses. Ceferino and his wife had no children, though they adopted one of his wife’s nieces. He attended Mass frequently and joined the Secular Franciscan Order. Always generous to the poor, he was known as a reconciler among Gypsies.
A transition occurred in the 21st century, whereby “Sarah the Black or Kali Sara” is understood as an Indian deity brought by the refugee ancestors of the Romani people, thereby removing any Christian association. Saint Sarah is progressively being considered as a Romani Goddess and an indisputable link with the “Mother India”.
Another legend identifies her as the black Egyptian servant of Mary Jacobe, with whom she is supposed to have arrived, together with Salome, on the southern shore of Gaul at the place later called Saintes-Maries de la Mer. Sarah is portrayed as a charitable woman that helped people by collecting alms, which led to the popular belief that she was a Gypsy.
