A Gypsy is a member of a racial/ethnic group known as the Romani, generally characterized by darker skin and black hair. The largest population of Gypsies now lives in Eastern Europe, however communities of Gypsies can be found in many countries around the world. They first originated in
India sometime before 400 AD, and began a nomadic lifestyle that eventually took many of them to Europe. From one initial community in
India they have developed into several tribes that exist from
India to Spain and from Russia to Northern
Africa, and each tribe consists of countless clans, which vary dramatically in culture and lifestyle depending on which tribe and clan and even family they belong to. Clans usually specialize in a
single, or few trades, such as horsemanship, fishing,
music, dance and entertainment, metal working, and fortune telling.
They have endured much racial discrimination in the past, which still continues today.