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Volume 13, Issue #2. Published on December 8, 2004
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Photo Toua Herr
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New Year in Fresno, Ca. is the largest Hmong celebration in the country.
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HMONG AMERICANS START NEW YEAR'S
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Toua Herr
Asian Pacific Review
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With time running out many Hmong in Fresno and throughout California are preparing for their annual Hmong New Years celebrations. Unlike western traditional New Years, which is on a specific date, Hmong and many other cultures base it on the harvest of crops, which varies by location. So Hmong New Year festivals are held during the end of the autumn months.
The first Hmong New Year to kick off the celebration was held last October in Chico, Ca. The other New Year festivals in order of date will be held in Oroville, Stockton, Merced, Sacramento, Long Beach, Santa Ana, Banning, and San Diego.
They all lead up to the biggest one in Fresno, known for drawing crowds internationally. The Fresno Hmong New Year is held annually at the Fair grounds. This year’s event will be from Dec. 25, to Jan 1.
Many may not know what a Hmong New Year is all about. Tracing back into history, going back to their homeland in Southeast Asia, the New Year is celebrated as a way to accept the upcoming year and wash away the old one. Many of the traditions, in one way or another, are still observed.
The New Year is celebrated for one whole week. During that week, everyone in the village dressed in nice new clothing and was on their best behavior because it would bring them good luck for the whole year.
The Hmong New Year wasn’t just a celebration; it was also a time for parents to introduce their son or daughter to eligible singles. During the festivities, everyone would come out, meet up at an open space, and toss cloth balls. While ball tossing, pov pov, they could either get to know each other or compete with each other in a poetry contest. The contest is similar to a lyric battle, but without the rapping. The poetry could be about a story or something romantic to win the girl’s heart.
If everything went well, a wedding could eventually happen between the newly formed couple. Now here in the United States, this tradition is still being practiced. Ball tossing, usually with a tennis ball, can be seen throughout the whole fairground and poetry contests are still sung among couples.
Dressing up is still tradition, with many attendees wearing the traditional Hmong clothing representing their clan and group identity (white or green).
Along with the activities and performances there are also hundreds of booths within the fairground selling every thing from toys to jewelry. Most popular of all, Hmong Musicians and independent movie producers sell their album CDs and independent films.
Wandering further into the fairground, you will find a food section where you can taste traditional Hmong food, and just about any other Asian style you can think of. Hmong New Year wouldn’t be complete without savory sticky rice and BBQ Hmong sausage.
The Fresno Hmong New Year is a one-week event that is fill with a lot of traditions and presentations of a unique culture.
Be sure to visit the up coming Hmong New Year, for kicks make sure you try the spicy papaya salad!
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