2008 Woodie Awards
Hmong celebrate sixth New Year in Chico
By: Ben Burg
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Online Exclusives
Oct. 1, 2008
Two-foot pork sausages, tennis balls being thrown as a way of flirting and plenty of flamboyant outfits covered with noisy trinkets were a part of the city's sixth annual Hmong New Year celebration, held at Silver Dollar Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday.
With about 3,000 Hmong living in Chico, many of the attendees came from around the Northern California area, including students from fellow California State Universities, said Kristen Lee, public representative for the Hmong Student Association.
"The purpose of the new year is to celebrate a long year of work," Lee said. "People rest after working on their crops and pray for luck in the coming year."
While walking through the crowds the clanging from outfits covered in coins and beads can be heard. The coins on the outfits represent the wealth that person has, at least in a traditional sense, Lee said.
More than 20 food stands showed off dishes of garlic and cilantro pork sausages, grills cooking more than 20 chickens at once and papaya salad.
The papaya salad is a staple Hmong food, said Mia Xiong, who was working one of the large grills at the festival.
Hmong people mainly come from Thailand and Laos and have incorporated some American culture along with theirs, Lee said.
"In some of the traditional dances, people will use hip-hop and rap music to go along with the moves," Lee said.
Many children at the festival were throwing tennis balls back and forth, mostly between a boy and a girl. Usually one party in the ball-tossing game recites a Hmong opera to the other, a sort of poetic flirting, Lee said.
Attendees packed the large building, which throughout the day hosted speeches, dances and musical performances. Before the performances began, children break danced, showing off their moves.
A qeej is a traditional Hmong instrument made from bamboo, said Tracy Yang, an event volunteer.
"I don't really know what kind of instrument to compare it to," Yang said. "It sounds good and you blow into it."
Ben Burg can be reached at
bburg@theorion.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Kristen Lee
posted 10/02/08 @ 1:04 AM PST
Actually, the last time I was informed, there were 3,000 Hmong students attending the university alone. As for the total population of Hmong living in Chico, I am uncertain, however, I am sure there must be more than 3,000 Hmong individuals living in Chico. (Continued…)
Keng Moua
posted 10/02/08 @ 12:50 PM PST
Why new year in Autumn? Where is the Hmong value in that? Such no pride, respect for cultural direction at all. So clueless kids. Don't quote anything if you are so dumb on your journalism. (Continued…)
Xue Yaaj
posted 10/02/08 @ 2:07 PM PST
Very interesting how Kristen Lee was quoted, "'People rest after working on their crops and pray for luck in the coming year.'"
It's kind of true what Keng Moua had said. (Continued…)
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