24-03-2025
Gitanos: 10 things you didn't know about Spain's Roma people
Most historians believe that the Roma first left north-west India between the 9th and 14th centuries and travelled throughout Europe and north Africa.
According to Spain's Fundación Secretariado Gitano, which aims to educate the Spanish population about the Roma people, the first documentary proof of this ethnic group's presence in Spain dates back to 1425.
It was then that the so-called Count Don Juan of Little Egypt and his entourage were allowed free passage in Spain by King Alfonso V of Aragón for a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
This means that 2025 marks a full 600 years since the Roma first arrived in Spain and decided to settle here, bringing with them a rich culture which influenced Spanish art, music, literature and even language.
Even though the word Gitano is commonly used in Spain, for the majority of Roma communities, the use of the word 'Gypsy' in English is considered offensive, so we will be using the more acceptable term Roma people in English instead.
Spain is among the EU countries with the most native Roma people
The European Council estimates that there are more than 6.1 million Roma people living in the EU. According to their calculations, 65.2 percent of this population is concentrated in four countries: Romania has 1,850,000, Bulgaria has 750,000, Spain has 725,000 and Hungary has 700,000.
The majority of Spain's Gitanos live in Andalusia
According to minority rights groups, over half of Spain's Gitanos live in the southern region of Andalusia, so it's no surprise that so much of Andalusian culture is heavily influenced by their long-established Roma community, from music to religion. The rest live mainly in Catalonia, Valencia and Madrid. Gitanos are full Spanish citizens and they have same rights as the rest of the population, just with their own cultural traits and shared common identity. Gitanos refer to all non- Gitanos as payos.
Gitanos have had a profound influence on flamenco
Many consider flamenco to be one of the most emblematic artistic expressions in Spain, but its roots actually lie with the Roma people, who were the ones who shaped this music and dance form into what it is today. Flamenco was born in Andalusia, around the areas of Seville, Jerez de la Frontera and Granada. Many of the flamenco songs even talk about the emotions and history of the Roma people themselves. Most famous flamenco artists are also Gitanos, from Lola Flores to Camarón de Isla and Joaquín Cortés.
Members of the Roma community sing during the Holy Wednesday procession of "El Cristo de los Gitanos" (The Christ of the Gypsies) celebrated in the Sacromonte neighbourhood of Granada. (Photo by JORGE GUERRERO / AFP)
Spanish cuisine has also been shaped by the Roma
Roma cuisine is characterised by its simplicity and the intense flavours of individual ingredients. Spanish dishes such as gazpacho and rice broth (paella) were both part of the Roma culinary tradition, and today have become an integral part of Spanish cuisine.
Gitano weddings are very different to Spanish weddings
Roma people in Spain have their own unique customs and celebrations which still continue today, including their weddings, which tend to last several days. Roma grooms dance with the bride in their arms and during the banquet, guests go up to the couple to give them money, and the brides give them carnations in return.
Spain once tried to exterminate its Gitanos
Perhaps the worst event in Roma history in Spain was the the Great 'Gypsy' Round-up (La Gran Redada) of 1749 which was authorised by King Ferdinand VI, who gave the Marquess of Ensenada the genocidal order to "extinguish" Spain's Gitanos. During the raid, around 10,000 Roma people were captured, families were separated and most were sent to forced labour camps, prisons and factories. Spain's Gitanos were eventually freed 16 years later by King Carlos III.
1872 painting titled "The Supplicants. The Expulsion of the Gypsies from Spain" by British painter Edwin Long.
There is still discrimination against Gitano communities
Despite having been part of Spanish society for six centuries, there is still plenty of prejudice held against Gitanos by other Spaniards, who tend to see them as untrustworthy. Spain's Council of State head Carmen Calvo has openly admitted that there is discrimination against Roma people in Spain and that they tend to struggle more economically and have fewer opportunities and services at their disposal.
Until 2014, Spain's main language institution (La Real Academia Española) had as one of its definitions for the word gitano someone "who scams or acts with deceit'. They may have replaced it with trapacero, but in popular speech the average Spaniard still uses Gitano to describe someone who is cunning or deceitful.
Gitano children used to go to separate schools
Up until the 1990s, Roman children in Spain would go to what were known as 'bridge schools' separate from other Spanish educational facilities, the premise being that this would bridge the gap in education. But there is still a big issue in terms of education and ensuing career development for them. According to 'In the last decade (2012-2022) there has been no significant progress in improving the educational situation of Roma students'. Six out of ten Roma students do not graduate from secondary education and 40 percent of Roma students leave school when they turn 16 years old. This in turn has led to poverty rates of 87.4 percent and child poverty of 86.8 percent.
Gitanos also left their mark on Spanish language
The Roma not only significantly influenced music and dance styles, but also instilled their language in Spanish culture. In fact, the Caló language of the Spanish Roma peoples has its origins in the Romani language, which is related to Sanskrit and Prakrit. There are actually several Spanish slang words that are derived from Caló including currar – to make an effort or work, molar – to be cool, mangar – to steal or nick and sobar – to snooze.
