The Church of Cheese: Gypsy Ritual in the American Heyday

by Carol Miller Msn, RN-BC

Overview

A disapora spread over five continents, Gypsies have yet to enter the American public consciousness, yet they have been arriving since the late sixteenth century. Columbus brought several, forcibly transported to the Colonies, and many Americans today may count, unknown, a Gypsy or two among their forebears. A legacy of misfortune and mistrust lives on in Gypsy blood, and glimpses into their lives are rare. From 1966 to 2000 Carol Miller?drawn in by a Gypsy matriarch?lived among the Machvaia during their Heyday. Here are her stories about creating a bounty of good luck made by good times: three-day weddings, opulent slavi (saint days), baptisms, holidays, parties, and fabulous offerings for the Dead Ones. From Baby Steve and Alice to Big Smith, from Pretty Bobby, Old Kaboka and Puro Bahto, from Julie and Jelly John to Luludj, Mek and the inimitable Lola, "The Heyday," this particular Heyday, is done, and we will not see its like again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781934848616
Publisher:	GemmaMedia
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.62(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Carol Miller is an anthropologist who has studied the Machvaia Roma of California. She lives in Seattle.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Crazy for Love: Rose's Story 1

Chapter 2 Meeting the Machvaia 15

Chapter 3 Luck 21

Chapter 4 Feeling 37

Interlude 1 The Romany Church, 1967 47

Chapter 5 Food 51

Interlude 2 Katy in Oakland, the Heyday, 1971 63

Chapter 6 Saints and Slavi, Posno and Fridays 67

Chapter 7 Holidays, Parties, and Gifts 85

Interlude 3 A Birthday Party, 1976 91

Chapter 8 Elvis and Travolta 95

Chapter 9 Ghosts, Grief, and Ancestors 103

Interlude 4 Halloween, 1997 121

Chapter 10 Commemoration of Death 123

Chapter 11 Happiness and Weddings 131

Chapter 12 Boria (Daughters-in-Law) 145

Chapter 13 Respect and Purity 153

Interlude 5 Out of Respect, 1970 169

Chapter 14 Krisa and Conciliation 171

Interlude 6 Bibio, Died, February 1999 177

Chapter 15 Leaving the Gypsies: Milano's Story 183

Interlude 7 Balloons at the Fair, 1978 199

Chapter 16 The New Church of Cheese 203

Conclusion: Po Drom in America 219

Bibliography 229

Glossary 235