Hmong culture: what to know?

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The Hmong people are part of an Asian ethnic minority that has its origins in the mountainous regions of southern China. Today, the Hmong people live in several Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Laos, Myanmar-Burma, and northern Vietnam. In the United States, however, the largest numbers of Hmong people are found in California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Language is a key identifier of Hmong culture. Over four million people worldwide speak the Hmong language, but there are many different dialects that are used to identify smaller groups within the culture. For example, Hmong people in the United States generally speak one of two major dialects: White Hmong (Hmong Der or Hmong Daw) and Green Mong (Mong Leng or Mong Njua).

Gender roles in Hmong society are very traditional. Men are to provide for the physical and spiritual well-being of the family, while women take care of the children and keep the house. At mealtimes, it is customary in Hmong culture to allow men to eat before women enjoy their meal. The wife is typically consulted before major decisions are made, but the husband is given final authority.

Divorce is very rare in traditional Hmong culture, but it is allowed. The husband retains custody of all sons and the wife retains custody of all daughters unless she has committed adultery. In this case, the husband is given custody of all children born of the marriage.

There is no uniform belief system among contemporary Hmong people. Many members of the Hmong culture are Christians, but there are also a number of people who continue traditional spiritual practices which include animism and ancestor worship. Shamans, healers who serve as liaisons between the spirit and the material world, are also sometimes consulted to provide herbal remedies or sacrifice spiritual money when someone is ill.

One of the most important celebrations in Hmong culture is the Hmong New Year. Since the celebrations generally occur in November or December, however, they can also be thought of as a kind of Thanksgiving holiday for the Hmong people. The event is usually a community-wide activity where people dress up in traditional clothing and enjoy traditional foods, dances and music. In the United States and other areas where Hmong youth often feel pressured to assimilate into the surrounding culture, the Hmong New Year helps keep traditional values ​​and beliefs alive.

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