The Romani share their thunder
Or how to amplify a celebration
In our mainstream culture, it is considered bad taste to mix together celebrations of personal nature. Proposing to your girlfriend at your cousin’s anniversary? Scheduling a party on the day of your mother (-in-law)’s birthday? Announcing a pregnancy on your friend’s wedding? Internet forums are overflooded with tales of the fallout that more often than not ensues from these “delicate” situations.
A celebration puts someone in the spotlight. So by mixing in your happy occasion, you’re basically yanking the spotlight onto yourself. Or so we believe. The rule of thumb is: in order to make sure that the birthday person, bride, or whoever is the star of the day, doesn’t feel as if you stole their thunder, you should clear with them in advance whether they are okay with accommodating your celebration, too.
Our culture is highly individualistic. It does not share.
The Roma culture, by contrast, …
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