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Hmong
Music and Dance - Hmong New Year History
The Hmong New Year is celebrated once a
year on December 1st and usually lasts up to one week. The purpose of
the New Year is for young women to meet new friends and for young men to
find wives and get to know each other better. In the Hmong culture they
must call to the spirits for a happy life and luck for the upcoming year
at least once before the end of the year; therefore they do it during
the New Year. Hmong New Year’s activities include tossing a tennis ball
(kuvtxiaj) and singing and dancing as the elders watch. At the
celebration, participants play the Hmong flute, practice leaf blowing,
perform on the Hmong violin, and share dramatized stories for people to
watch. There are competitions for the best singers, the best dancers,
and the most beautiful performers. Whoever wins receives a prize. (The
prizes are money and respect from the elders). The purpose for the Hmong
New Year is for everyone to have fun and perform.
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