The 2012 Hmong New Year will be the most important time of the Year. Every year New Year is celebrated to bring joy, happiness and peace in the community. As per the Hmong belief the New Year celebration does not last for only one day. They consider the even number 1 as evil. So, the celebration continues for ten days. At times the celebration continues for a month too. During 2012 Hmong New Year all peasant will take off from work and spend time with near and dear ones. At times they do not celebrate the beginning of the year on the 1st of January but they decide a day which is convenient for all. This is done as the New Year time coincides with the time of harvesting rice. The Hmong people say that the New Year celebration must be for at least three day as it is considered to be auspicious.

The people from the Hmong culture considered the New Year time to be the best for marriage. So, lot of marriages happen during the New Year time. The Eve of the New Year is very important for the Hmong culture. The ritual to bid good bye to the last year is known as hnub peb caug or the thirtieth day. They Hmongs believe in good and bad spirits. Hence, during New Years’ Eve they perform ritual to keep bad spirit away. They also perform rituals to welcome good spirit. Few things they do for the good spirit are:

• Cleaning of the house
• Nkaum Taw Qaib: The Magic Rope
• They call the good spirit to their home
• The wealth of the family is given rest for three days during New Year

The New Year celebration by this community is done for mainly three aspects. They mainly perform the followings:

1. Perform the religious ritual
2. Match making of the young people in the community
3. They display their wealth during the beginning of the year

Hmong’s special way to keep evil spirit out

The Hmong culture believes in keeping evil spirit away during the New Year. They keep the bad spirit out in an interesting way. They clean the entire house and take the dirt to the tree top where a rope is tied. Then they throw the dirt from the tree top to keep evil out. This also brings good luck during New Year.

Children’s game at the New Year

The 2012 Hmong New Year will be celebrated by children in a special way. Every year the children from this community play a traditional game to welcome the year. The game is called Tops. Wood pieces are cut across on top and in the conical shape at the base. The game is played within two teams. Each team has their own top and each team would try to knock the opponent’s top while keep their own spinning. The game is quiet similar to badminton. Another game played by the children during New Year is forfeit. Two rows of children sit opposite to each other. A soft ball is thrown to each team. A forfeit has to be paid by the team who drops the ball.

Different rituals by the Hmomg culture for the New Year

There are different rituals which are performed by the Hmong people.

• They call back all the souls of the family during New Year time to reunite with them. This process is called Hu Plig.
  
  
• The God of wealth is given offerings during the beginning of the year. This tradition is called txi Xim Kaab.
  
  
• If any house has a shaman then they perform Shamanism. It helps to release the curing spirit.
  
  
• Noj 30 refers to the meal prepared for the entire family during New Year.
  
  
• Pe Tsab is performed to take blessings from the elders in the family. It also includes the dead ancestors.
  
  
• Ntxuav Kauv Laug refers to cleaning the body during New Years’ time.
  
  
• Ntuag Qhauv is performed to kill all the anxiety, loneliness, and problems of the family.
  
  
• The ritual to welcome guest to have the great meal during New Year is called Tog NeejTsa Tuaj Noj Tsab.
  
  
• The thanksgiving ceremony during New Year is called Xa Noob Ncoos/Tsoog Laug.
  
  
• The Hmong culture tells to thank the parent and in-laws of the family in a special way and it is called Tam Noob Ncoos.
  
  
• The soul of the dead in the family is released by the ritual called Tso Plig.
  
  
• The entire family gathers to welcome the New Year and have meal together which includes pigs, cow, and buffaloes. This special meet in the family is called Noj Tsab.

The origin of the Hmong

A small ethnic group who originates from the Yellow Basin Area in China are the Hmongs. Hmongs are found in many countries. They are popularly known as Miao in China. They are believed to have embraced various groups. It is very difficult to trace the origin of the Hmong culture. There are no written evidences. The history of this culture is known orally and the story continues from generation after generation. The Hmong people contribute a large part of the refugee population. They are settled all over the world. Wherever they are, they follow their tradition, belief and language.

The Hmong food

The food of the Hmong culture includes mainly rice and broth. From the later 1990 they started using South East Asian dishes in their cuisine. The staple food for the Hmongs is white rice with vegetable, hot pepper and meat. They use a lot of herbs in their cuisine. The herbs they use are: lemongrass, cilantro, garlic, green onions, mint and ginger. Further, they use lot of sauce in their food.

The Hmongs in a nutshell

The Hmongs are divided into 18 clans. After marriage the women does not leave their father’s clan but moves to the husband’s clan permanently. The Hmongs support a male dominated society. They are always staying together as a family. So, there are always fun, frolic and get together among the Hmongs. They are an expert in crafts, basket making, sewing and many other creative things.