A woman who identifies as a ‘Gypsy Traveler’ has opened up about her life within the community, discussing some of the ‘rules’ they adhere to.
Some well-known figures with Gypsy or Traveler backgrounds include Michael Caine, Elvis Presley, and boxer Tyson Fury. In the United States, it is estimated that around 1,000,000 Gypsies, also known as Romani people, reside, along with thousands of Irish Travelers, most notably based in Murphy Village, South Carolina.
The primary distinction between Gypsies and Travelers lies in their origins.
Speaking to LADbible, Gypsy Traveller Charlotte-Ann Maguire shared: “Romani Gypsies originated from India a long, long time ago, and Irish Travelers originated from Ireland. I think that’s the main difference. Also, they have their own unique language, which are separate from each other.”
Despite some minor differences, Charlotte-Ann noted that both communities generally share similar morals and values.
In a conversation shared on YouTube with LADbible, Charlotte-Ann detailed the ‘rules’ that Travelers and Gypsies typically follow.
“To an outsider looking in who doesn’t live the same lifestyle, they might perceive it as strict rules,” she explained, “but to us it’s our lifestyle.”
She added: “It’s our choice, and it’s who we are. So, it’s not a list of rules to us.
“It’s not like when you’re 13, your mammy don’t hand you a to-do list and say ‘do this, do that, live like this, live like that’. It just naturally comes to you because it’s the way you’ve been brought up.”
Charlotte-Ann mentioned that one aspect others may find unusual is that it’s typical in Traveler and Gypsy communities for individuals to remain at home until they marry.
“You stay at home and that’s that,” she stated.
Now married, Charlotte-Ann revealed she still communicates with her mom multiple times daily, saying: “I always go back to see my family. I’m not saying that non-Travelers don’t have a good family basis and people they can go to, but I think we’re very family orientated, like, extremely, and some people could find it strange how close we are.”
Charlotte-Ann frequently shares her experiences on TikTok, where she has amassed an impressive 230,000 followers.
One of her videos has garnered over 4.5 million views, and many of her other clips have attracted thousands of views and likes.
You can explore her TikTok page here.