Vesna Ackovic and her daughter in law. Christmas tree and decorations. 31st December 2003.

Vesna Ackovic and her daughter in law. Christmas tree and decorations. 31st December 2003. The Batman figure was bought as a joke for her husband Dragoljub Ackovic who is a well known Rroma Gypsy radio journalist in Belgrade.

Roma Christmas in the Orthodox tradition involves killing the household pig that has been fattened on the kitchen scraps all year. Then there is feasting for several days. The children sit on top of the carcass to signify good luck for the coming year. Funerals are followed by a pumana ceremony which takes place 6 months after the burial, this takes place on the grave with feasting and drinking. Many Roma make a living by recycling, others by selling at the markets or in the building trade. Unfortunately there are those who live in abject poverty where just finding fuel to heat the house at winter is more important than food itself. This is a life without opportunity.

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Contained in galleries: Roma Christmas Romania Serbia

Vesna Ackovic and her daughter in law. Christmas tree and decorations. 31st December 2003. The Batman figure was bought as a joke for her husband Dragoljub Ackovic who is a well known Rroma Gypsy radio journalist in Belgrade.<br />
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Roma Christmas in the Orthodox tradition involves killing the household pig that has been fattened on the kitchen scraps all year. Then there is feasting for several days. The children sit on top of the carcass to signify good luck for the coming year. Funerals are followed by a pumana ceremony which takes place 6 months after the burial, this takes place on the grave with feasting and drinking. Many Roma make a living by recycling, others by selling at the markets or in the building trade. Unfortunately there are those who live in abject poverty where just finding fuel to heat the house at winter is more important than food itself. This is a life without opportunity.