Seattle Hmong New Year

OVERVIEW

Seattle Center Festál presents Seattle Hmong New Year in partnership with Hmong Association of Washington (HAW). The festival celebrates the end of the harvest season with intricate clothing, dance, food, and more.

HISTORY

The Hmong people are an ethnic group who have maintained their own language, customs and ways of life, while adopting the ways of the country they live in, since the Hmong do not have a country of their own. Seattle Hmong New Year was created to give thanks to ancestors and welcome a new beginning. This is the biggest festive holiday celebrated where Hmong communities exist. Traditionally, this celebration lasts for ten days, but has been shortened in the U.S. Everyone dresses in traditional Hmong clothing and enjoy traditional food, dance and music. One very popular part of the Hmong New Year is, 'Pov Pob' tossing ball between two people, a form of courtship.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Hmong women are known for their embroidering hemp and cotton and intricate needlework of traditional clothing.
• Hmong are also famous for their silverwork in jewelries and blacksmiths specializing in farm tools and weapons.
• Hmong has only 18 surnames/clans: Chang/Cha, Cheng, Chue, Fang, Hang, Her, Khang, Kong, Kue, Lee, Lo/Lor, Moua, Pha, Thao, Vang, Vue, Xiong, and Yang.
• The Hmong language has two dialects: white and green (similar to the British and American forms of English).