I’m a gypsy – the two words we’re forbidden from saying and 10 traveller traditions country folk find odd
A GYPSY girl has revealed the 12 traditions that country folk might find odd.
Heidi Mcdonagh Clee, an Irish traveller, explained that not only are there three words she would she never say, but she also didn’t cut her children’s hair before the age of one – something that many people in the gypsy community believe in.
Heidi also explained the concept of ‘luck money’ and shared why many gypsies will put red bows in their daughters’ hair.
The mum-of-two took to social media to explain the superstitions she grew up thinking were normal, as she shared a clip with the caption ‘Here are some things that I thought were completely normal growing up as a traveller.’
She then explained: “I have seen this trend all over my For You page, so I thought I’d jump on and do some.
“Disclaimer, obviously everyone has different ways. I am just generally talking about my upbringing and what happens in my household.
“I’m an Irish traveller and Danny [partner] is an English Gypsy.
“The first thing is, we don’t like saying the word – devil/demon.
“I don’t really say that I don’t like it, but my husband on the other hand, he does.
“We never really say that at home.”
Not only would Heidi never say the word ‘devil’ or ‘demon’, but she will often say ‘God bless’, as she explained: “Another thing I always do is whenever I remark something, I always just say ‘God bless it.’
“So be it a child, or someone has a new motor, or whatever. Just whatever you’re passing comment on, you just automatically say ‘God bless’.”
Heidi then revealed the traditions that gypsies follow when it comes to children, as she added: “When a baby is born, we put silver money into the child’s hand on their Christening day.
“[Some] believe that you should call all your elders auntie and uncle.
“That isn’t something I was brought up with, but [my partner has] enforced it on the children.
“Now, we believe that if a child gets remarked a lot, you can put a red ribbon in their hair to keep the evil eye of them.
“And I remember this because my sister, when she was born, she was literally born with a head of black curls.
“She was unbelievable and people would literally stop my mummy in the street to remark the child.
“Her grandmother told her, put a red ribbon in the child’s head and it’ll keep the evil eye off her. So she did.
“No matter what she was wearing, she always had a red ribbon in her hair.”
Heidi then explained that she would never say the word ‘cancer’ or step over a child, and would make sure to Christian her children soon after they are born, as she confirmed: “One thing that we never said or were never allowed to say, and I still don’t say, is this word right here – cancer.
“Even if somebody is going for tests, they would just say ‘the back complaint’, that’s kind of how we refer to it.
“A really weird one – stepping over children.
“My daddy, he really believe this. It stops the children’s growth apparently.
“We believe also in getting children Christened very quickly.
“My boy was about three weeks old when he was Christened and my girl was about five weeks or so. But yeah, Christened nice and quick.”
As well as this, Heidi revealed the other superstitions that many travellers she knows follow, as she said: “Another one was whistling at night. We were not allowed.
“Cutting the children’s hair before they’re one. I don’t know where that comes from, but my mummy wouldn’t let me cut my children’s hair before they were one.
“She said it takes the goodness out of them. I don’t know what that means, but I didn’t do it.
“Luck money is a big thing as well. So if you bought something, someone will always give you back some luck money. It doesn’t matter how much it is.
“With Danny, when somebody dies in his family, he doesn’t eat meat until they’re buried.”
Heidi’s TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @h.mccc, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed over 1,000 likes and 50 comments.
Many people took to the comments to share their superstitions, and many shared Heidi’s beliefs.
One person said: “I’m Irish and I was always taught to never whistle at night, especially in my home as it brings unwanted entities!”
Another added: “I’m Irish & we do a lot of those things, I don’t let the boys whistle in the house at all & didn’t cut hair until my wee one was two.”
A third commented: “Always done sliver in baby’s hand. I’m Irish.”
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