Plenty of families in the Northland are making plans for a New Year’s Eve party later this month. The Hmong community here in the Twin Ports celebrated their new year this weekend. The Hmong New Year is special, because it’s a time to honor ancestors and spend time with friends.

As younger generations of Hmong integrate into western society, they might face some challenges like loss of culture and language. But at the Coppertop church, every year Hmong families gather together to celebrate the Hmong new year.

Jeffrey Kue is the vice president at UMD’s Hmong living in unity and balance club. He says this special holiday celebration wouldn’t be what it is without help from the Twin Ports community.

“Honestly, it wasn’t too hard finding these volunteers. At the Hmong Club, we do have a good amount of people, but it’s such a small and like family-like community,” Kue said. “We’re all very willing to help each other we’re all family, and just want everyone else to have a good time too.”

Kue says the Hmong New Year is significant in the Twin Ports, because it allows residents to learn more about a growing culture.

“We didn’t really have our own country or our own land to really celebrate or really get to know each other,” Kue said. “So the Hmong New Year really brings us all together and we can all share our own different views and different groups. Especially about the Hmong culture and just celebrate it together.”

The Hmong pass down their history, knowledge, and art from one generation to the next through oral teachings and storytelling. Cherpao Vang has helped coordinate the Hmong New Year in the Twin Ports for over a decade. He says it’s important for elders in the community to continue passing down their traditions to younger generations.

“Since we came to America, you know, things change,” Vang said. “So, we like to pass on that culture to our youngsters. Then even though we don’t have a lot of population among these 24th, we like to pass on this culture to our youngsters.”

Vang also says the number of people who attend the new year celebration has grown over the years. He and his family even help with cooking the huge feast.

“Every year I cook about a thousand egg rolls. There’s going to be a lot of egg rolls right back in the kitchen. So come and join up. If you can’t make it this year, put it on your calendar,” Vang said. “Next year will be a first Saturday of December that we have that event right here in Coppertop Church. Learn a new culture. Yeah, right. That’s what the culture is sharing. Come and learn something new.”

UMD’s Hmong Living Union and Balance Club will be hosting a heritage night during the spring semester. The heritage night will have students promote, preserve, and advance the Hmong culture.