“I used to think that the bees are just like us. They fly from place to place to stay alive. They are also free to come and go as long as there are flowers. For us, the cities, the villages and the farms were the flowers.”
This quote from “Lily van Angeren-Franz”, by Carry van Lakerveld and Bertje de Leeuw, describes the urge for freedom of Dutch travelers. Although they are no longer free to come and go where they want, the urge to travel is unbeated.
Every year, since 1982, Sinti travelers from all over Europe come to Roermond. For a week they pray and stand up for their own rights and for harmony and solidarity between all people. Faith is important. “If our faith is right, we can live with everyone.”
Children get to know each other at meetings like this. They make lifelong friendships while the values of the community are passed on to the new generation to continue the tradition. An important event during this gathering is the blessing of the wagons so that the Sinti can travel safely for a year. The procession to the Chapel in ‘t Zand is impressive. Accompanied by Gypsy music, the Sinti carry a statue of the Virgin Mary to the Chapel. The victims of persecution and war around the world, and in particular the victims of the persecution of Sinti during World War II, are commemorated.
