Hmong New Year Celebrations in the US: Honoring Ancestors, Passing on Traditions

Hmong Americans celebrate the "Noj Peb Caug" or new year, a spiritual celebration that involves rituals to connect with ancestral spirits and seek protection from good spirits. Many younger Hmong have not learned the spiritual significance of these traditions, prompting community leaders to educate the younger generation to preserve their cultural heritage. The majority of Hmong in the United States are animists, believing in the presence of spirits throughout the physical world. The Hmong Cultural Center and individual families are working to pass down these traditions and customs to future generations.