Every year thousands of Hmong people from all over the world gather to celebrate the coming new year. A custom that has been celebrated for many generations, there are a multitude of cities which put together these events. The largest celebration traditionally occurs during the whole week between Christmas day and New Years Day in Fresno, CA. It’s called the Hmong International New Year and it is a celebration of traditional music, dance, food, colorful textile and jewelry, merchants, of course courtship… and even a beauty pageant!
Although many thousands attend, the Hmong new year celebration seems to tragically get smaller every year. Is it the unfortunate consequence of assimilation into the new American culture? Is it the slow death of a culture losing its core as the older more traditional generation passes on? The preservation is a struggle that the new Hmong-American generation must try to overcome. I for one, hope that we the younger Hmoob generation will be able to preserve and celebrate our culture. For this reason again, I try to make the 4 hour drive every year to absorb, observe and enjoy this annual celebration.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the Hmoob culture? How do you feel about it? How can we preserve the culture? Your comments and thoughts are welcome below.
Please share your comments below.
Additionally you can view the rest and many more photos at the Hmoob.com Gallery
prettygeekyphotos
prettygeekyphot
That woman’s head gear is INSANE! XD But they’re all so pretty!
I’ve never been to an outdoor Hmong New Year’s celebration before. I probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much because I’m such a mole and don’t like being in the sun. Nevertheless, I agree that the celebrations get smaller each year. This year the MN New Year wasn’t as crowded as previous years and the majority of the people that attended were either FOBs, young kids, or elders/older people.
Love the wonderful pictures! Its such an inspiration to see the many new and unique clothing designs. Now as far as preserving the Hmong Culture and events such as these, I would suggest making these events more safe. Every year I hear about fights and people getting killed and it just saddens me that our brothers and sisters don’t love one another. If we don’t love each other, then who’s going to love us? There’s always going to be a pooper who pisses on other people’s parades…
I agree Sue, the safety of these events still needs to be addressed. Additionally, they should allow those dressed in Hmoob clothes a free or reduced entrance fee. At some point the preservation our culture has to be held with more value than that of making money at the door.
I love your photos!!
I adore your photos (Lori linked me, so you can blame her!).
I’m not Hmong but I do think that what you see with the decreasing involvement in culture is a global phenomenom. It’s interesting though because some cultures are managing to make a comeback particularly in the diasporas. It’s something one of my lecturers talks about in terms of globalisation and nationalism in Korea and Japan but I think it actually applies to all cultures these days. It’s harder and harder for people to identify themselves with one separate and distinct culture in increasingly multicultural societies without something to pin their sense of culture with. Unfortunately I don’t really have any answers. For Korea and Japan (and India) the sense of cultural identity seems to be spread through the diaspora with fashion and music and other forms of popular culture, but whether that helps to foster the respect for traditions and the essence of their culture I’m not sure. It’s quite sad really.
I love the photos… They looked very amazing. I have a dance group going for competitions this year and we want a photogapher, if so.
Hmong New Year is getting Expensive (everywhere), many Hmong are still living subproverty. NY is turning to be a flea market style..lots of vendors, music blasts as hard as it gets very absurd..if someone wants your music/video, buyers will find it, no need to blast and make noise pollution. Be or not, assimilate is a must because of resources from the mainstream America society. Preserve Hmong culture is not as important as put more talents and business to the World how good we are, there are among the FASTEST growing Asians in the US for nearly 40 years and nothing to show, it is SAD & VERY SUX.
omg my aunts are in the last pic lol omg wow!!!
Wow, I just saw my friend in the blk/white one photo w/ the girl in yellow!. LOL!.