Garden City Elementary School celebrates Hmong New Year

In addition to Thanksgiving at the end of November, another large celebration took place over the weekend: Hmong New Year at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. The holiday takes place at the end of the 12th lunar month and beginning of the first, though celebration dates vary based on community needs. 

Garden City Elementary used the St. Paul celebration as a good time to help students get familiar with the important Hmong holiday, which typically lasts from 2-10 days around the world and includes both large community gatherings as well as private celebrations in homes. 

Presenter Halee Vang shared information about the holiday with groups of students all day Nov. 25 and 26 at the school, including the tradition of walking under a rope to wash away any bad energy before receiving good energy for the new year, and the tradition of ball tossing among groups of young people at Hmong New Year to make new connections. 

The students then got to take part in the ball tossing activity before the next group arrived for their celebration time.