engleski

Dealing with the Romani Issue in the Magazine Kršćanska obitelj (Christian Family) (Mostar, 1900-1920 and 1938-1944)

Kršćanska obitelj is a monthly magazine that was edited and printed by Herzegovinian Franciscans in Mostar from 1900 to 1920 and from 1938 to 1944. Roma are mentioned about 60 times in various contexts in 13 volumes, which is, admittedly, a very small frequency. When referring to Roma, the following terms are used in the magazine: Ciganin (Gypsy), the clipped form Cigo, Ciganka (Gypsy woman), Ciganče (Gypsy boy, girl or woman). Roma are portrayed as people having dark complexion and black hair. They are said to be cheerful and very resourceful. Roma men are mainly mentioned only in jokes where they stand out with their eloquence and resourcefulness. They are also described as people who cheat in trade, smuggle, lie and whose oaths are worthless. Stealing is also mentioned as one of their major characteristics. They steal farm animals, they steal from houses and churches and they steal children. The most common punishment for all their misdeeds is being beaten. The magazine strongly condemns an incident that happened near the town of Kutina where the residents of a village roasted persons of Roma nationality live on a skewer for having repeatedly stolen their horses. Roma women are described as women wearing rags. They do not wash and do not comb their hair. Begging is one of their main characteristic features. They are often mentioned in the context of witchcraft and soothsaying. The authors of the articles in Kršanska obitelj prohibit mocking Roma, especially if they are beggars. They also prohibit to the readers to believe in their spells. During the Second World War the magazine did not encourage any intolerance against Roma. During that 4-year period Roma are mentioned 21 times, mostly in popular jokes.

Christian Family ; Romani ; Gypsy

"Kršćanska obitelj" je mjesečnik koji su od 1900. do 1920. i od 1938. do 1944. uređivali i tiskali hercegovački franjevci u Mostaru. Romi se u različitim kontekstima spominju u 13 godišta časopisa, ukupno 60-tak puta, što je, mora se priznati, iznimno mala učestalost pojavljivanja. U "Kršćanskoj obitelji" za Rome se rabe izrazi: Ciganin, Cigo, Ciganka, Ciganče. Romi su prikazani kao ljudi crna tena i kose, veseli, vrlo snalažljivi. Romski muškarci se najviše spominju u kontekstu pošalica u kojima dominiraju svojom rječitošću i snalažljivošću. Varaju u trgovini, švercaju, lažu, zakletve su im bezvrijedne. Kradu domaće životinje, kradu iz kuća i crkava, kradu i djecu. Najčešće kazna za njihove nepodopštine su batine. Časopis oštro osuđuje postupak mještana jednog sela blizu Kutine koji su na ražnju pekli žive Rome zato što su im u više navrata krali konje. Romkinje su neumivene, nepočešljane, nose dronjke. Prose. Spominju se u kontekstu čaranja i proricanja budućnosti. Autori u "Kršćanskoj obitelji" svojim čitateljima zabranjuju rugati se Romima, osobito ako su prosjaci. Zabranjuju vjerovati u njihove vradžbine. U vrijeme Drugog svjetsk