Inside Fresno's Hmong New Year traditions.
Fresnoland looks at some of the activities and practices that make up the local celebration of the Hmong New Year, or "Noj Peb Caug."
Fresno’s Hmong community welcomed the new year with celebrations that included traditional practices from their homeland, as well as public events that have emerged among younger generations in the United States.
Below, Fresnoland looks at some of the activities and practices that make up the local celebration of the Hmong New Year, or “Noj Peb Caug,” (pronounced “naw-pay-chow”).
The Hmong name for the celebration literally means “eating on 30,” a reference to the number of days at the end of the year traditional meals are prepared.
Historically, the Hmong began the cultural tradition to mark the end of the harvest season, when people were finally able to rest. It is a time to celebrate their culture with their family and community. Relatives and friends gather in homes, where the period is recognized with chanting and the rhythms of a gong.
The annual event is split into two parts: the ritual and the public celebration.
The rituals typically last one full day and begin with a ceremony called “lwm sub”, (pronounced “lou-shoe”). This is a moment for community members to ward off bad spirits by walking under a rope made of grass-thorn.
When returning home from this event, the in-house practice begins.
The in-house tradition may only be performed by the male head of a family, one whose own father has passed. This family tradition is passed through the male line because women, once they marry, become part of their husband’s household.
At the start of the in-house ritual, a shaman, relative or head of the household summons spirits of household family members to return.
Lee Vang, the head of his Fresno household, requested that his eldest brother, Pacheng Vang, perform this ritual for their family as they gathered last month.
“Come home, everyone. Get back safely without any sign of sickness,” Pacheng Vang chanted in Hmong, calling home the spirits of household members.
Families are obligated to make offerings of food and representations of spiritual money to their returning ancestors.
“During the meal, you call your parents first, then after, you call your grandparents and anyone older than you,” Lee Vang said.
Families set dining tables with traditional dishes to be enjoyed by their ancestors, leaving chairs open for them to sit in. A rice bowl may be set out with several spoons to be used by the guests, but the exact number of spoons is not important.
“Back in Laos, we used to all sit down around a table and share spoons since there wouldn’t be enough for everyone to have their own,” Lee Vang said.
To end the ritual, a banner and house altar known as Xwm Kab (pronounced “sue-kah”), must be created or renewed annually to protect the house.
The “xwm kab” is made of a sheet of joss paper and adorned with three feathers plucked from a sacrificed rooster.
It is important that the xwm kab is hung up on a wall, directly across from the home’s front door.
“It’s the first thing that people see when they enter your home,” Lee Vang said. “It lets your guests know that your house is protected.”
Each feather has a significant meaning. The first feather represents good health. The middle feather, in Laos and Thailand, represents good luck for harvesting. In the United States, however, it has become a blessing for a stable job. The final feather represents good wealth and fortune.
A feast is also held at the end of the day to celebrate with guests. When the in-house ritual closes, everyone then prepares for the public Hmong New Year celebration.
The Hmong New Year celebrations in California occur in cities with large Hmong communities: Yuba City, Oroville, Stockton, Sacramento, Merced, Long Beach and Fresno.
Many people travel from far away to join the celebrations, which emulate a sense of being at home through the wearing of traditional clothing and participation in social activities.
The Fresno Hmong New Year has been dubbed the biggest Hmong New Year celebration in America.
At the events, attendees can shop for traditional items, eat cultural dishes, and enjoy music, sports tournaments, a pageant show or dance competitions.
A popular social activity at the event is called “pov pob,” also known as “ball tossing.” During this activity, unmarried men and women of all ages line up in front of each other and toss a tennis ball back and forth. The fun encourages them to talk and meet one another in hopes of finding acquaintances and partners.
In its recent years, the Fresno Hmong New Year celebration has included an exhibit to educate others on the history of the Hmong.
The diaspora of the Hmong people has led to many different practices of the culture today and it varies by regions and clans. Despite the differences, each region closes the year with a celebration where Hmong people can gather and enjoy the rich traditions of their culture.
