THEY come in droves, dressed in ‘nightclub’ finery and wearing more makeup than most women twice their age.

Four times a year, Roma boys and girls flock to the city of Stara Zagora for the “bride market”.

Held on various religious holidays during the spring and summer, it’s a chance for Roma’s nomadic tinkers to meet and not only catch up on gossip, but also play matchmaker for their adolescent sons and daughters.

The young people catch up as traditional gypsy music blares from speakers. Teen boys and girls dance along, the girl often atop car roofs so they can better be seen by prospective husbands.

The aim is to catch up and have fun, but most of all to try to catch the eyes of young men.

In this deeply impoverished area no goal is more important than finding a husband willing to pay a dowry of several thousand euros.


http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/teenage-roma-girls-attend-the-marketplace-for-brides/story-fnet0gly-1227243475463

Wolseley wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2015 at 3:45pm:


It really doesn't matter..since the Roma/Gypsies marriage thing is about marrying a couple of teenagers, with some various complicated rules and steps involved.....as opposed to Islam, where a 40 yr old guy can marry a 12 yr old  girl (which does NOT happen in the Roma world)