The Norwegian and Swedish Travellers are a group or branch of the Romani people (also known as Roma people, Romanies or Gypsies) in Norway and Sweden. By history and culture, they are related to similar groups of Romani people in other countries, such as the Romnichals and Sinti. Sometimes, the Norwegian/Swedish Travellers have been confused with the indigenous Norwegian Travellers, although they perceive the latter group to be non-Roma by culture and origins. By the settled majority population, the Norwegian Travellers are known as Tater, and in Sweden they used to be called Tattare. The latter is now considered a disparaging term and has been completely abandoned in Sweden. In Norway the Travellers are categorized as a national minority group, officially referred to as Tatere (Gypsies), Reisende (Travellers) and Romani-folk (Romani folk). In Sweden Travellers are officially referred to as Resande-Romer (Roma Travellers), and counted as one of several groups or branches within the minority of Romany people in the country. Norwegian/Swedish Travellers speak a form of Romani language known to academics as Scandoromani. In their own language, the Traveller community refer to them selves with various names, such as Romani, Vandriar, Romanisæl etc. They were treated badly by the church and the society. At one point they were castrated by force, and children were removed from their families, so that "the plague wouldn't expand." There is an estimated number of 15,000 Roma Travellers in Sweden, while in Norway the number is probably less than 10,000.
Further reading
- http://www.romanistudies.se/forskning.html - in Swedish
- Sundt, Eilert, 1852 Fante- eller landstrygerfolket i Norge - in Norwegian
