Hmong New Year is celebrated betwen November and December throughout Laos. Each village has their own time for celebration. This HNY, my friends and I traveled to Souksala (a town 2 hours from Vientiane) and KM 52 (a town one hour from Vientiane) to celebrate with my family.
We spent two days with my relatives. My friends participated in the New Year rituals of sacraficing animals for the new year feast. On day three, we traveled to KM 52 to join the small festival where young people ball toss and dress up in Hmong clothes.
Usually HNY is celebrated for 7-12 days but we could only stay for 3 since we had to return to teach. I was amazed at how happy my relatives were that I brought my American friends. In KM 52 at the festival, we also met many Hmong people who were happy that Americans were wearing Hmong clothes and ball tossing. Many stopped to talk with Jess, Mike, and Lizz. I felt like the "cool" kid in the village with all my American friends.
If I compared the festival in 52 to what HNY is in St. Paul, MN, I would say HNY in 52 felt a lot like the international sports tournament (J4). This torunament happens on the July 4th weekend in St. Paul, MN. There are outdoor markets, food stalls, and lots of sports competition. HNY in KM 52 felt like that minus the sports. I was surprised by the number of YOUNG Hmong-Americans I met who accompanied their parents to Laos. Usually older Hmong people come back during the new year to visit their loved ones in Laos but it is uncommon for the children to come with. I met a few young men who were from North Carolina and California. It was very refreshing to talk to them and exchange our thoughts about our motherland.
HNY was too short but I definetly will cheerish the memories I have made. Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab (Happy Hmong New Year everyone).
We spent two days with my relatives. My friends participated in the New Year rituals of sacraficing animals for the new year feast. On day three, we traveled to KM 52 to join the small festival where young people ball toss and dress up in Hmong clothes.
Usually HNY is celebrated for 7-12 days but we could only stay for 3 since we had to return to teach. I was amazed at how happy my relatives were that I brought my American friends. In KM 52 at the festival, we also met many Hmong people who were happy that Americans were wearing Hmong clothes and ball tossing. Many stopped to talk with Jess, Mike, and Lizz. I felt like the "cool" kid in the village with all my American friends.
If I compared the festival in 52 to what HNY is in St. Paul, MN, I would say HNY in 52 felt a lot like the international sports tournament (J4). This torunament happens on the July 4th weekend in St. Paul, MN. There are outdoor markets, food stalls, and lots of sports competition. HNY in KM 52 felt like that minus the sports. I was surprised by the number of YOUNG Hmong-Americans I met who accompanied their parents to Laos. Usually older Hmong people come back during the new year to visit their loved ones in Laos but it is uncommon for the children to come with. I met a few young men who were from North Carolina and California. It was very refreshing to talk to them and exchange our thoughts about our motherland.
HNY was too short but I definetly will cheerish the memories I have made. Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab (Happy Hmong New Year everyone).