The Kalderash are a Romani subgroup traditionally identified with coppersmithing, their name derived from the Romanian caldarar, a maker of cauldrons. Formed as a distinct group during the centuries of Romani presence in Romania, where much of the Romani population was held in slavery until its abolition in 1856, the Kalderash subsequently dispersed across the Balkans, Central Europe, Russia and the Americas. They speak a Vlax dialect of Romani carrying heavy Romanian influence and, like most Romani communities, generally practise the majority religion of the society around them.
Facts
Origins
Origin RegionRomania, where the Kalderash formed as a distinct occupational group among the Romani population held in slavery until its 1856 abolition, before dispersing across the Balkans, Central Europe and beyond. 1 Language FamilyKalderash, a Vlax dialect of Romani, itself an Indo-Aryan language, carrying substantial Romanian loan vocabulary from the group's own formation in Romania. 2 Traditions
Principal Religious TraditionsNo distinct Kalderash religion; like most Romani communities, the Kalderash generally practise the majority religion of the society around them, historically Orthodox Christianity in Romania and the Balkans and increasingly Pentecostal Christianity since the twentieth century. 3 Practice
Practice StatusLiving, and practised in varied local forms 1 Connections
Associated With
Source Romani Pentecostalism: Gypsies and Charismatic ChristianityDavid Thurfjell and Adrian Marsh, editors (includes Regis Laurent, "On the Genesis of Gypsy Pentecostalism in Brittany")
Found In
Source The GypsiesAngus Fraser
Originated In
Source The GypsiesAngus Fraser
Source The GypsiesAngus Fraser
Regions Where This Is Principal
Source Encyclopedia of ReligionMircea Eliade (ed.); Lindsay Jones (ed., 2nd ed.)
In the Other Atlases
In Branch
Also in Language Atlas: the branch this subject belongs to.
Sources
1. The Gypsies
Angus Fraser, Blackwell, 1992
2. Ethnologue: Languages of the World
David M. Eberhard, Gary F. Simons and Charles D. Fennig (eds.), SIL International, 2024View the Source 3. Romani Pentecostalism: Gypsies and Charismatic Christianity
David Thurfjell and Adrian Marsh, editors (includes Regis Laurent, "On the Genesis of Gypsy Pentecostalism in Brittany"), Peter Lang, 2014View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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