hmong history
In the 1950's a Catholic missionary and two linguists created a Hmong writing system similar to the roman alphabet. the Romanized Popular Alphabet is accepted by the Hmong. The Hmong language was not written until the mid-twentieth century. Hmong legends tell that a written Hmong language was forcibly destroyed by the Chinese. The Hmong tried to trick the Chinese by using clothing and textiles embroidered by women as a record and example of their language. The exact origin of the Hmong is unknown; hints to their cultural beginnings are found in Hmong folklores. "One of the recurring characters in Hmong folktales is the orphan, a young man whose parents have died, leaving him alone to live by his wits." The "orphan" is just like the Hmong people. They live independently apart from other cultures and civilizations. Early Chinese records report that the Hmong are living along the plains of the Yellow River. The Hmong in China had no desire to become "Chinese" For the most part the Hmong in China has lots of fights to maintain their independence and culture. The Hmong resisted the Chinese government's taxation and attempts to "impose control over their lifestyle" and were forced to fight or flee. Th United States were afraid of a domino effect of communism. President Eisenhower told the President-elect that if Laos falls into Communism, then the countries of South Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma will also fall into communism. Hmong guerrillas were especially skilled in the arts of ambush and quick retreat. When they approached Chinese camps they were never together, but divided into little groups of three or five men who hid in the trees and rocks. Many Hmong people who had been able to go to Thailand had talked about the use of chemicals of the "yellow rain" by the communists, which causes sickness and even death upon the people that has been touched by the yellow rain. The reason why the Hmong from Wat Tham Krabok came to the United States was because they had no other place to go to, they didn't want to go back to Laos because they were afraid of being persecuted like others, and the Thai government didn't welcome the Hmong because they have been wrongly accused of being drug dealers or something. The Laotian purposely accused the Hmong because they didn't like them. The Lao clan and the Thai government were having a difficult time being friendly with each other as neighbors. So the Hmong were not able to get their Thai citizenship because of that.The Americans promised the Hmong that they would take care of them if the communists took over. The Hmong and their families were airlifted to Thailand, once people heard that General Vang Pao is leaving soon, people started rushing to Long Chieng with their belongings. They desperately wanted to get on the planes hoping to be airlifted. The newspaper of the Lao people announced that "The Hmong people must be exterminated down to the root of the tribe." Many Hmong were slaughtered either in their village or at airfields where they were waiting for the planes to airlift them to Thailand, but never came. Some Hmong died on their way out of Laos to Thailand. Some people see General Vang Pao as a really harsh person. One Hmong recalled, "Vang Pao recruited by force, I was very lucky. My father had money and he payed four other men to serve instead of my three brothers and me." General Vang Pao as told to, punished those who have failed, by cutting off their supplies. One of Thailand's military's strict policy was that whenever the residents leave the camp, they would have to answer and fill out a number of questions, which would take 5-10 minutes. There was an incident where a little boy was severely injured because of a burn and needed to go to the hospital for medical reasons, but the soldiers wouldn't let them pass until the paperwork was taken care of. In the end the little boy died on the spot. In the United States it's difficult because you're different. Author Tim Pfaff described the challenges: "They have faced linguistic, educational, economics, cultural and racial barriers which created confusing, embarrassing, and even frightening situations in their daily lives." An American saying states, "Freedom isn't free," and this means that freedom has a price. Usually the price is battle. Throughout History, the Hmong have gained a reputation for being fierce fighters. Most of the Hmong living in the United States are Hmong that settled in the high mountains of Laos. the Hmong culture was sustained in Laos in four ways: through language, through family, ties and clans, through religion, and through daily life. The Hmong won many victories against the French, until the French discovered that the Hmong's muskets don't work in wet weather, so the French started attacking the Hmong only on rainy days.
Hmong marriages
In the Hmong culture, there are many different kinds of marriages. For example, a marriage by choice, bride-napping, and lastly marriage by negotiation (marrying by the choice of the parents).The Hmong culture doesn't really have a big party like Americans do when they have weddings. For the Hmong, it is like a gathering of relatives, like cousins, aunts, uncles, and etc. The most important people to be there is both of the peoples families. The place is the bride's house, they must kill a pig or a cow and then eat just like a gathering for relatives technically. The grooms family has to give a certain amount of bride-wealth to the brides family. This payment is kind of saying that if the bride misbehaves (for example, cheating on her husband or by running away for no reason), the husbands family can demand for the money's return.
hmong Holidays and funerals
The Hmong New Year is based on a Hmong folktale, its about a shaman-hero named Txoov Siv Yis who defeats an evil spirit called Liv Nyoog, he devours the Hmong people. After Txoov Siv Yis defeats Liv Nyooog, he tells the Hmong in hiding to come and celebrate their freedom. Funeral rites may last a several days. New year is a time where people can go see their friends, cousins, aunts, and other relatives, but it is also a time where those individuals who are still single to find a date. At the New Year, there is also ball tossing, it is meant to bring two people together to chat, sing, and get to know each other. At a funeral, a drum is beaten, reed pipes are played, and a special ritual expert is invited to sing the song "Opening the Way," which will help the reincarnating soul of the deceased back to the original village of ancestors to be reborn. The Hmong don't have many holidays, the only traditional holiday is the New Year around the end of December or the beginning of January, it usually lasts about a week long. In the United States, because of the weather, they don't follow the traditional time. For example in Wisconsin, Wausau Area Hmong New Year usually takes place towards the end of November.