Nye

North Carolina Hmong New Year 2010-2011

Hmong New Year celebration falls on the weekend of Thanksgiving in our area, and this year is exciting for Lee since she was dressed in a full Hmong outfit made by Mozemoua.  It was exciting for me to meet her for the first time also, Lee was very shy, and here is a picture of Lee and Mozemoua.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/200sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 60mm, pattern metering

Her sister Hlee took this picture for us, Lee in a full Hmong outfit.

Photographs by Hlee - Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/125sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 32mm, pattern metering

We got there a little late, the traffic was insane and the parking lot was packed. I think next year we need to get there early in the morning and I would have more photo opportunity as well.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/8, 1/60sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 85mm, pattern metering

The crowd at the concert/ball field area. The image below would have looked better with a higher f/stop.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/500sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 60mm, pattern metering

During the Hmong New Year celebration, the Hmong ball tossing game pov pob is a common activity for adolescents, but I noticed that older couples also play this game as well. Boys and girls form two separate lines in pairs that are directly facing one another. Girls can ball toss with other girls or boys, but boys cannot ball toss with other boys. It is also taboo to toss the ball to someone of the same clan. The pairs toss a cloth ball back and forth, until one member drops the ball. If a player drops or misses the ball, an ornament or item is given to the opposite player in the pair. Ornaments are recovered by singing love songs (hais kwv txhiaj) to the opposite player. (Source and to read more about the Hmong New Year) I’m not sure if the gifts and the singing of love songs are still practiced in America.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/500sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 105mm, pattern metering
Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/8, 1/125sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 35mm, pattern metering
Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/400sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 60mm, pattern metering

The concert area was packed with people.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/8, 1/40sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 80mm, pattern metering
Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/500sec, ISO 100, exposure bias -0.3step, focal length 90mm, pattern metering

I think you can find a good bargain of Hmong clothing here, but still very pricey comparing to MN.  Mozemou said that it’s cheaper to buy on Sunday.  It’s the last day and vendors would be willing to bargain since most vendors would want to sell what they could instead of taking it home with them.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/800sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 96mm, pattern metering
Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/8, 1/500sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 45mm, pattern metering
Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/11, 1/200sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 65mm, pattern metering
Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/11, 1/60sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 50mm, pattern metering

My niece also came home with an outfit, we are looking forward to attending next year’s event.

Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/100sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 90mm, pattern metering
Aperture Priority, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, f/4, 1/200sec, ISO 100, exposure bias 0step, focal length 70mm, pattern metering

21 comments

    • Jeffrey, it’s a very festive event. I’m amazed of the crowd on Saturday, when we got there we were moving inch by inch.

      Thanks for the link, this is such an accomplishment for you. 🙂

    • salalao, it was a lot of fun, I was overwhelmed with the number of people there. This is good for our community.

      I’ve to tell you that I look a lot like my sister (Danny’s mom), and hopefully next year I wouldn’t have to cling to the stage. 🙂

  4. Nye, it was great to finally meet you! Lee is too cute with her outfit on and I am too short! LOL But I am glad you guys enjoyed it. We didn’t show up until around 10ish. I should had kept my Hmong clothes on longer, but i was so tired from wearing it (I know that was sad for me to say).

    Your photos turned out great!!!!

    • Thanks mozemoua, the new year was great, better planning on my part next year. You look great standing next to Lee, she had to pay to get in now, so she is not considered a child anymore. 🙂

  5. Nice story and photos. Finally, after all these years I get to see the person hiding behind the name Nye :-). I might be bumping into you in Hickory and this way I can introduce myself.

    • seeharhed, thanks. I hope I look friendly and approachable, actually just another face out there in the world wide web. 🙂

  6. I enjoyed to read about and see the lovely pictures from the Hmong New Year. The Hmong outfit that your daughter has got is really beautiful! Happy New Year to you all!

    • Hi truels, thanks. This New Year celebration brought lots of people from out of town, fortunate for us that it’s only a few miles from our house.

  7. I didn’t know there is a huge Hmong community in your area. Seems like fairly organized and fun event. But, where are the food pics? 😦

    • Hi Dallas, sorry no food photo, I promise to do better next year. There is a large Hmong community in our area, this piece of land is owned by the Hmong community and hopefully they’ll build a building for gathering such as this in the near future. This event draws a large crowd from out of state also, Mozemoua said that it’s 10x bigger than the one in GA.

  8. Hi Nye,

    Your family photo is cute! And the girl’s outfit are so cheerful.

    Btw I recognized your blouse. Brown is one of my favorite colors to wear in the fall… mixed in with either a sky blue or purple scarf.

    • Hi Cambree, it’s a fun event for the kid, we need to go early next year when the traffic isn’t so bad.

      I’ve been meaning to blog about my sister’s design. This one she has a colorful stripped with a brown corduroy fabric that I found at the fabric store. It’s nice to be able to make your own clothes. 🙂

  9. Your photos are getting better by the post, Nye! Keep it up!

    PS – You can totally pass for my Na Sao.

    • Hi Sao Joy, thanks. I’ve reached my goal for this year, there is more to learn next year.

      If I could pass for your Na Sao, I wonder if you have a Chinese blood in you. 🙂

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