the concept of Bohemia

[cacian]

I am trying to get a broad picture of this title and the closest I got to understanding is that I feel it is very similar to hippies and nomadic style of living.
I am not sure however of it being compared to a vagabond because of the underlying meaning of the lattest.

Is this a possible comparison?

[prendrelemick]

There's a coincidence, I was discussing this the other night, with someone who seemed to know.

The vagabond and nomadic thing comes from the French who call Gypsies Bohemians in the mistaken belief that they came from Bohemia. (Unlike us who thought they came from Egypt).
Bohemia was/is in the current Czech Republic but was a major Kingdom in the 1300s. I think the Court of one of the King Wenceslases was liberal and arty, hence the modern meaning, ie an alternative and artistic lifestyle.

[Samsa]

THIS (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Among-Bohemians-Experiments-Living-1900-1939/dp/014028978X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342715740&sr=1-1) is a book that might interest you.

[cacian]

There's a coincidence, I was discussing this the other night, with someone who seemed to know.
The vagabond and nomadic thing comes from the French who call Gypsies Bohemians in the mistaken belief that they came from Bohemia. (Unlike us who thought they came from Egypt).
what made you think they came from Egypt?

Bohemia was/is in the current Czech Republic but was a major Kingdom in the 1300s. I think the Court of one of the King Wenceslases was liberal and arty, hence the modern meaning, ie an alternative and artistic lifestyle.
It is quite interesting the correlations of bohemians looks and gypsies and I wonder somehow if the term 'bohemian' was a term taken to mean posher then a gypsy if you like.

[Revolte]

I've adapted some Pagan, Wiccan and Romani schools of thought into my own spirituality as well as I have known some people with Romani blood, and talked to some here and there.

With that being said, a Bohemian is (at least in modern terms), more or less, someone who adapts the Romani (gypsy, but gypsy is a slur word) culture without having Romani blood. I don't mean like on those awful reality tv shows, of course, those are poor portrayals.

The meaning might differ to person to person, depending on their believes, culture and blood.

[tonywalt]

[QUOTE=cacian;1155929]what made you think they came from Egypt?


We don't think that, but our European ancestors initially thought they came from Egypt.

Wait - where's my damn wallet?

[Revolte]

[QUOTE]


We don't think that, but our European ancestors initially thought they came from Egypt.

Wait - where's my damn wallet?

Yep, truth. It's really insulting to the Romani to call them gypsies, although like most slurs people get over it and don't have a problem using the word, but it's not true for everyone. As were other stereotypes like what you mention here with them being thieves.

They were also allowed to live in the woods, as long as they didn't bother people in town.

[prendrelemick]

what made you think they came from Egypt?

It is quite interesting the correlations of bohemians looks and gypsies and I wonder somehow if the term 'bohemian' was a term taken to mean posher then a gypsy if you like.



I don't, but "Gypsy" is a corruption of "Egyption"

I think there are two different and separate meanings here. One is artistic and alternative, like the royal court of Bohemia. And the other is travellers (Gypsies or Romani) thought to come from Bohemia. They were utterly different from each other but have been referred to by the same name because of a coincidence.

[cacian]

I've adapted some Pagan, Wiccan and Romani schools of thought into my own spirituality as well as I have known some people with Romani blood, and talked to some here and there.
Hi Revolte I have never heard of Wiccan.

With that being said, a Bohemian is (at least in modern terms), more or less, someone who adapts the Romani (gypsy, but gypsy is a slur word) culture without having Romani blood. I don't mean like on those awful reality tv shows, of course, those are poor portrayals.

The meaning might differ to person to person, depending on their believes, culture and blood.
For some reason I think the word 'La Boheme' which in French is a feminine word and not masculine it seems to suggests it finds its root outside Europe and the continent, somewhere outside these zone anyway.
I always found the words Rome and Romania quite intriguing in the sense that they share the word ROME.
I am pretty sure Bohemia is propably trying to pretend to be somehow nomadic with a stigma of wilderness and vagabondage.
I am wondering whether it did start somewhere in romania/tcheck and were the landowner made to move out of their lands a bit like the Israelite and were labelled bohemians by the romans so as to cover up the whole removal of these people of their lands.
Just a thought.