Ederlezi: How the Romani celebrate the slaying of the dragon

...and what this teaches us about embracing other cultures.

Snapshot from the movie “Time of the Gypsies” by Emir Kusturica

In the eternally divided Balkans, when we see something we have in common with another culture, we don’t celebrate it. We fight over who came up with it first and who it truly belongs to. This goes for songs, food, customs and traditions, historical figures, anything you can think of. “It’s Greek.” “No, it’s Bulgarian.” “No, it’s Serbian/Albanian/Macedonian” and on and on it goes. When another culture has a similar dish, song, or tradition as yours, this means “they stole it.”

This is why we find it both fitting and poetic that the biggest Roma holiday is one that pulses across all Balkan cultures. It exists in Christian, Muslim, and pagan traditions, and while it goes by various names, it’s celebrated by everyone regardless of religion, ethnicity, and nationality.

The Balkans have long been called “the second home” of the Romani after they left their motherland, Ancient India, over a thousand years ago. And yet, after centu…