Traditional games and fun of the Roma community inhabiting eastern Poland. An anthropologicalethnomethodological perspective

Introduction. The Roma for strangers are a people of serenity and fun. By the majority of the Polish society they are perceived as people who have lost touch with a broader context of social reality. The aim of the research was to gather material concerning traditional Gypsy fun and games, systematize the knowledge about the physical culture of the Polish Roma and also determine the sense of social actions taken within the scope of games and fun of this ethnic group. Material and methods. The research, belonging to the current of anthropological-ethnological thought, was carried out among the Roma from the eastern part of Poland. The findings were presented as elements of non-material culture and a form of physical activity of this ethnic group. The traditional games and fun of the Polish Roma were presented against the background of general characteristics of the ethnic group and the entire history of the Gypsies presence on Polish soil. Results and conclusions. The research has shown that the physical culture of the Polish Roma, displayed in the form of games and fun, is crucial for strengthening the existing social bonds and shaping new ones. The research has proven that the joint physical culture of the Polish Roma, being an integrating factor, initiates and intensifies social interactions, and is conducive to the development of interpersonal relations. It has been found that there are patterns of physical culture and forms of physical activity of characteristic of the Roma community. The study and the interpretation of the findings, has enabled the authors to systematize the knowledge on the physical culture of the Polish Roma, and also determine the sense of the actions taken by them in this scope.