Romanians from Serbia in Denmark

parts of the Vlach community in Denmark, but had been suppressed during
Tito’srule. Among these values were a greater openness towards religious
matters and a revived interest in origins,nationality and ethnicity, as well as
an ideological celebration of the family as a core institution in society.
In particular, the emphasis on the family in Serbian nationalism is likely
to have made this ideology appealingto Vlach women. For them, migration
implied a loss of previous independence and created a situation more like
thetraditional role of Serbian women, whose sphere of control also tended
to be confined to the private realm.During the Milosevic regime, economic
insecurity and the troubles related to everyday existence worked to
strengthen women’s self-denial, but at the same time gave them new power
and control over those who were dependent on them (Bijelic 2005: 286).
The praise of motherhood in nationalist rhetoric and the celebration of
women’s strong but hidden position within the family attracted a large
number of female voters from the socially fragile and economically
disadvantaged groups in Serbia (2005: 296). Likewise, certain migrant
women (particularly in the older generation) may have regarded the
ideological ‘return to ancient values’ as having thepotential to bolster their
own roles as the guardians of tradition in charge of keeping alive the
connectionsbetween the village of origin and the new homeland.
At present, it is striking how the most important rites of passage, such as
marriage, baptism and burial, continue to take place in the homeland
village. A trip to the graveyards in the villages of origin reveals a large
number of elaborate and well-kept tombstones. This confirms the
importance of being buried properly, that is, in Serbian soil. Funerals
continue to form a very important part of the Vlach religious tradition as
symbolicacts to celebrate their common roots (Schierup and Ålund 1986:
53). After the funerals, pomanas are heldin the village at certain intervals
in honour of the dead to represent the sacrifices, humility and co-operation
towards the ancestors. 9 Many migrants grumble over the constant
obligations being placed on them to finance extravagant ceremonies of
remembrance. As the keepers of tradition, mothers and grandmothers in
particular have a strategic interest in ensuring that they are upheld.
However, they are wellaware that, if such traditions are to be continued, it