Ritual Purity and Impurity among the Gypsies

In this thesis author deals with theme of the ritual purity and impurity among the Gypsies. Concept of ritual purity and impurity brought to anthropology Mary Douglas. Her approach became important tool to research Gypsy groups. Ritual impurity represents specific irrational quality, which influences social status of the individual or group and social relationships. It creates fundamental border between Gypsies and non-Gypsies and inter-communal hierarchy. Ritual im/purity these borders define clearly, but Gypsies cross and shift them. Within the families, this concept maintains inequality between men and women. Following chapter shows examples that go against mainstream interpretation of im/purity. Ritual purity is being kept by three instruments - Gypsy court, social control and fear of dead souls. Finally author compares Douglas's theory with concrete concept of purity and impurity among Gypsies