Bibi (Romani cult)

Bibi or Auntie Bibi is a religious holiday celebrated by Orthodox Roma who live in Serbia, but also by Orthodox Romani around the world.[1] This celebration is known as Bibijako Djive.[2] The Roma of Muslim creed also celebrate it in Montenegro.[3] Bibi is celebrated as a healer and protector of the family, and above all as a protector of children's health. Each place or city has its own special date for celebration, which is explained by the legend of Auntie Bibi, who came to different places and performed healing at different dates. The dates of this Roma religious holiday are mostly related to the days of Easter fasting and are therefore mobile.[4] The presence of a priest is obligatory, although Auntie Bibi is a non-canonized saint.[4]

Gypsy family from Serbia (1905)

In different surroundings Bibi (Auntie) is also called Healer Bibi or Bibiyaku. In Romani, "bibi" means aunt, and the diminutive of that word is "bibiori". Aunt Bibi's holiday is listed in the National Register of Intangible cultural heritage of Serbia in 2019.[4]

Bibi is the only true Roma Slava they have in Serbia. In addition to Aunt Bibi, every Roma family celebrates its Slava (such as St. Nicholas or St. George's Day), as well as other religious holidays, such as Easter and Christmas.[5]

Customs during the celebration in Serbia

Aunt Bibi is celebrated collectively, with all Roma gathering at a holy place - usually a tree or cross, bringing a celebratory cake and food, and in some places, gifts for a Bibia (comb, mirror and children's clothes) hang on to a holy tree. On the Day of celebration, after the service in the Orthodox Church, the Roma go on a procession, carrying the cake and candles and shouting: "To the health of Bibi!" (Romani: Bibiako sostipe!). Everyone who celebrates brings cake and fast dishes to serve guests under their native tree, usually pear or walnut tree. Under the tree, the host of the next glory is determined and the slava cake is handed over. It is celebrated with songs and dance, and children receive packets full of sweets.[1]

Celebration of Bibi in Muslim communities

Auntie Bibi is well known among Roma communities in Montenegro as well as in the wider region. Nomads in Montenegro are informed about it but do not have any ritual activities related to Bibia, while Roma Muslims celebrate it for their holiday Djisatedimi.[3]

Ethnographic literature does not provide reliable information on whether Muslim Roma celebrate Bibijako Djive. According to ethnographer Aleksandar Petrović, Muslim Roma in Kruševac (Serbia) had adopted the Bibijako Djive feast from Christian Roma, and they celebrate it on the same day, but at night. Leading up the holy day, they fast for several days and the celebration starts at sundown. Dragoljub Acković, the author of two monographs on Bibi (2004; 2010), also reports that ethnographic literature does not contain information on the celebration of Bibijako Djive by Muslim Roma. However, in the 2010 monograph Acković references information gathered among Muslim Roma from Prizren, Uroševac or Ferizaj (Kosovo) and Belgrade (the capital of Serbia) which indicates that these Muslim Romani communities celebrated Bibijako Djive for the sake of protecting their children from disease, but that the celebration of the Bibi cult lasts an entire month, from 31 January to 1 March.[2]

References
  1. "Romi slave tetka Bibiju (Roma celebrate Aunt)". Official (in Serbian). RTS (Radio Television of Serbia). Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  2. Ćirković, Svetlana. Bibi and Bibijako Djive in Serbia. PROJECT EDUCATION OF ROMA CHILDREN IN EUROPE. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  3. Rasulić Delić, Vesna. "Ko je Tetkica Bibija? (Who is Auntie Bibi)". Official (in Montenegrin). NVO Romsko Vrijeme (NGO Roma Time). Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  4. "Tetkica Bibija (Not translated yet)". Intangible cultural heritage of Serbia (in Serbian). Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia and Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  5. Beljan, Mateja; Milojević, Marina (8 April 2016). "Bibijako Sastipe! Ovako je u Beogradu proslavljen jedini romski praznik". Blic (in Serbian). Retrieved 19 March 2020.

Further reading
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