MAKING A PENNY
OR TWO
THE ROMA GYPSY WAY
The Roma Gypsy has never been afraid of hard work from working on the land picking fruits and vegetables to making baskets and wooden pegs to sell or flowers and lace.
The Roma Gypsy’s were the first recyclers long before recycling was ever heard of. An old worn out cabinet, thrown out by its former owner, left for the bin collectors, would be taken and sanded right down to its bare wood. Brining it back to life with vibrant colours and wonderful patterns, all painstakingly painted. When finished, I would doubt whether even the former owner would recognise their old cabinet.
Two old milk churns beautifully painted.
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Once finished, it would join other bits of furnishings that have been given a new lease on life. All would be taken to market or a village or town fair to be sold.
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The old knife and scissor sharpeners would go door to door asking the lady of the house if she had any knives or scissor or even garden tool to sharpen.
The tin smith who made pots and pans would sell their wares door to door or at the local village and town fairs. For just a bob or two and they were far better than what we buy today. Some will say guaranteed for five or even ten years, costing more than a few pound, but a pan bought from a Roma Gypsy could last a lifetime. In fact there are family’s who are still using their great granny’s or granny’s pots and pans.
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Lets not also forget the Gypsy Fortune teller who would do some dukering out on the street for the well to do ladies and gentlemen, telling them what their future held.
However, there is a young gypsy girl who is keeping the old traditions alive and earning a bob or two along the way. She sells flowers and I believe eggs too and she enjoys doing it so much that her grand father built her, her own little cart to sell her wares from here she is here with her flowers all ready to sell and with her cart.
It is so nice to see a young Gypsies helping to keep the old ways alive, so if you should come across one of our Gypsy vendors, stop and buy a little bunch of flowers, or even some fresh eggs for your tea, or even have your knives sharpened.
Photos by kind permission of the family.
