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Scottish travellers or the people termed loosely as gypsies or tinkers in Scotland are often mistakenly confused as one ethnic group. Far from being one homogeneous ethnic group traveller’s or gypsy traveller communities in Scotland consists of a number of diverse unrelated communities, with groups speaking a variety of different languages and holding to distinct customs, histories and traditions. There are six distinct gypsy communities currently in Scotland, these being; Scottish Highland Travellers, Funfair Travellers (or Showmen), Irish Travellers, Scottish Lowland Travellers, Romanichal gypsies and in modern times New age Travellers and European Roma gypsy groups have also immigrated to Scotland.
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In Gaelic they are known as the Ceardannan ("the Craftsmen," or "Black Tinkers"), or poetically as the Summer Walkers. Highland Travellers are called Minks or Minkari by other groups especially the Scottish Lowland Travellers who are a distinct ethnic group. They may be referred to as traivellers, traivellin fowk, in Scots, or tinkers, originating from the Gaelic tinceard or (tinsmith). Mistakenly the settled Scottish population may call all traveling and Romany groups as tinkers, which usually regarded as pejorative and contemptuously as tinks or tinkies[1]. Highland Travellers are also colloquially known as "the gaun aboot fowk".
Highland Travellers are closely tied to the native Highlands, and many traveller families carry clan names like Macfie[2], Stewart, MacDonald, Cameron and Williamson and Macmillan. They follow a nomadic or settled lifestyle; passing from village to village and are more strongly identified with the native Gaelic speaking population. Continuing their nomadic life, they would pitch their bow-tents on rough ground on the edge of the village and earn money there as tinsmiths, hawkers, horse dealers or pearl-fishermen. Many found seasonal employment on farms, e.g. at the berry picking or during harvest. They also brought entertainment and news to the country folk. Since the 1950s, however, the majority of Highland Travellers have settled down into organized campsites or regular houses.
The Highland Travellers' speech includes a 'Pidgin-Gaelic' called 'Beurla-reagaird'. It is related to the Irish Traveller Shelta as a creol of the Goidaic language group. It was used as a cultural identifier, just as Romanies used the Romani language. However like the Highland Traveller the language is unrelated to the Romany languages.
The Highland Traveller community has a long history in Scotland going back to at least in record to the 12th century, [3] and share a similar heritage, although are distinct from the Irish Travellers. As with their Irish counterparts, there are several theories regarding the origin of Scottish Highland travellers, one being they are descended from the Picts, [4] excommunicated clergy, [5] to families fleeing the Highland potato famine, or the pre-Norman-Invasion, [6] have been claimed at different times. Highland travellers are distinct both culturally and linguistically from other gypsy groups like the Romany, including the Romanichal, Lowland Scottish Travellers, European Roma and Welsh Kale groups.
As an indigenous group Highland Travellers have played an essential role in the preservation of traditional Gaelic culture. [7] Travellers' outstanding contribution to Highland life has been as custodians of an ancient and vital singing, storytelling and folklore tradition of great importance. It is estimated that only 2,000 Scottish Travellers continue to lead their traditional lifestyle on the roads.
Scottish traveller Belle Stewart was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to her country's cultural oral tradition in Scots and Gaelic.
Origins of Scottish lowland traveller’s is not clear, and can be categorized into three main theories, i) those of indigenous origin to the British Isles, like the Scottish Highland and Irish traveller communities, ii) they are of Indian origin and have a common ancestry with the English Romanichal, and continental Roma groups, [8] iii) or a fusion or mix of Romany and indigenous traveller groups. [9] Regardless of the accepted theories, there has been a certain degree of socio-biological fusion historically between Romany groups and indigenous Scottish traveller’s, perhaps from the outset of Roma groups arriving in Scotland in the early 16th century. [10] and there are Scottish traveller’s with at least some degree of Romany including Romanichal ancestry. [11][12] This is not uncommon and can be seen in other groups throughout Europe including the , Scottish traveller’s, remain a distinct ethnic group.
Lowland Scottish Travellers share many cultural features with European gypsy communities such as a belief in the importance of family and family descent, a strong valuing and involvement with extended family and family events, a preference for self-employment, purity taboos (termed as Romanipe by the other groups) and a strong commitment to a nomadic lifestyle; even when living a sedentary lifestyle).
Scotland has had a Romanichal population for at least 500 years, they are a distinct group from the Highland traveller and share a common language and heritage with the English gypsies and Welsh Kale, who are also Roma. The first official mention of Travellers in Britain was in 1505, when it was recorded that seven pounds were paid to 'Egyptians' by King James IV at Stirling. They enjoyed a privileged place in Scottish society until the Reformation, when their wandering lifestyle and exotic culture brought severe persecution upon them.
In recent years a variety of European Roma groups, descended from the same people as British Romany Gypsies, are Gypsies/Travellers who have moved here from Central and Eastern Europe, and are also a recognised ethnic minority group. Some have arrived as asylum seekers and refugees, fleeing persecution abroad.
Irish Travellers are a distinct Irish ethnic group with their own customs, language and traditions. Many live in the UK for all or part of the year. Like Romani gypsies, and Scottish Highland gypsies, they are a recognised ethnic minority group.
New Age or New Travellers choose to live an alternative travelling lifestyle for ideological reasons, for example, because they want to live in a more 'green' way. New Age Travellers have existed since the 1970s, so some are now second or third generation Travellers.
Adam Smith, the renowned political economist and moral philosopher was kidnapped by Highland Travellers at a young age[5][6].
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