When talking to less assimilated Hmong persons it may be necessary to repeat questions and allow extra time for responses. In general, Hmong Catholics are more likely than Hmong Protestants to accommodate some forms of traditional animist practices within their new faith framework. They have two big festivals: the Lunar New Year festival at the beginning of the lunar December and the Dragon Boat Festival (on 5th Lunar May). New York & London: Routledge. These Gods along with other spirits are believed to dwell in the spiritual world the realm of the dead, the invisible, and the supernatural. For example, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Wat Resettlement Working Group convened by Congresswoman Betty McCollums Office located in Minnesota, is one of the councils that helped seek political asylum for Hmong refugees. Each part of the house is also believed to have its own spirit, including the stove, and the doors. Persons of Hmong origin traditionally believe in life after death. Link no longer available, 2010. Westerners have jaws that are less sharp and lips that are wider looking. Distinctions among various kinds of rice are found in Hmong language new rice, sweet rice, purple rice, sticky rice, rice in field, harvested rice. With proper guidance from Hmong musical performers during the funeral rituals, Hmong believe that the souls of the deceased will come back to their ancestors for reincarnation, and that the new bodies of their relatives will come back as new members of Hmong families. A person is thought to have been allotted time on earth by God and to have been given several souls. In the US, the social structure has changed. Marrying someone who a family disapproves of can bring shame and bad reputation not just for the individual but for the family too. At death, the wandering soul returns to the spirit world and continues to live life there much as it did in the physical world. Mammogram, Pap smear or rectal exams were not available back in the homeland. Retreived September 19, 2006, from WWW Hmong Homepage http://www.hmongnet.org/publications/hmf-intro.html. In Laos, the Hmong resided in extended families of three or four generations. However, within the family itself, confidentiality may not be thought of as all that important and families may make care-giving decisions together. The soul may be lost due to injury, wounds, a fall, a loud noise, being unconscious (including from anesthesia), fear, or feeling sad and lonely. The baby is given lots of affection and attention, physical and social contact with mothers, grandmothers and older siblings. A strict protocol is to be followed for the marriage ceremony, which centers on showing respect to both families. "In California, the celebration lasts a week and 100,000 people will be there," Lor said. Son anti-envejecimiento. Their month calendar counts 30 days per month. Some biomedical treatments may conflict with Hmong belief. Though often treated badly by fellow countrymen, the Hmong excelled in government service positions and as liaisons with the representatives of the French government. They became citizens, bought homes, worked hard, and invited other Hmong to join them. In the US, changes happening between the generations are beginning to alter this tradition, as children are not learning the art of the appliqu decoration. Hostile spirits, spells, curses and a violation of taboos are other factors believed to cause illness. Updates? People converted for various reasons to please their Christian resettlement sponsors, to qualify for private school scholarships or in response to the difficulty of performing traditional rituals. To foster understanding of the medical exams or diagnosis, visual aids of the human body part related to health condition must be used to accompany the information. Powerful roles exist for men and women in Hmong culture, though in the US there is disruption in gender roles based on economic need and acceptance of American ways. (2005). When there is a challenge in a nuclear family setting, it is best resolved within that unit. The Indochinese Farm Project, funded by a Seattle city block grant and by the King County Park Commission from 1983 through 1990, helped some Hmong and other former farmers from Laos learn about Seattle soil, weather, marketing, and business practices. He is considered by some to be the Hmong paramount leader. Traditionally in Asia, the clan name would be spoken first followed by the given name. 19.3.2 Facial-Feature Detection. Physical activity post-partum is also restricted, as this may cause internal organs to collapse. In a time of need, an individual will first turn to the clan. The family is divided into individual extended families consisting of spouses, children, parents and siblings. Seattle, WA 98144, Spokane Hmong Association Family members share their experiences and seek support from one another. According to the 2000 Census, the largest population of Hmong in the U.S. numbers more than 65,000 in California; followed by 41,800 in Minnesota; 33, 791 in Wisconsin; 7,093 in North Carolina; 5383 in Michigan; 3000 in Colorado; 2101 in Oregon; 1468 in Georgia; 1294 in Washington; and 1127 in Massachusetts. New villages could be a considerable distance away from a groups previous locale. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like How does Dr. Tsai operationally define emotional response in this study?, If Hmong Americans tend to have fewer and weaker facial expressions of emotion than European Americans, how might this affect the diagnosis rates for depression in these two groups?, A person wakes up happy. People seek healing outside a home from a folk medicine doctor (usually a woman) or a ritual/magic healer (usually a man). Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. For more detailed information on geriatrics and older Hmong Americans, see Stanfords Ethnogeriatrics Health and Health Care of Hmong American Older Adults - Stanford. A soul calling ceremony is required to cure the sick person. Increasingly, American-born Hmong are not fluent speakers of Hmong. (Mote, 2004), Among American Hmong, fewer mothers are breast-feeding than in previous times. Funeral rites may last several days, and there is a series of mortuary rituals that takes place some years after a death. Retrieved December 22, 2006, from New America Media, News Report. In the US, many Hmong now use the Western pattern of the given name first, followed by the clan name, and some women adopt their husbands clan name as their own. According to the 2000 census, the Hmong are the only ethnically based population with a median age under 20. (Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health at the University of Queensland, 2003), Traditionally, the woman is kept warm for three days post-partum, and touching cold water is prohibited. An adult male is expected to have full knowledge of traditional values passed from his father or male relative. Eggs, pork and some fish may be added after the first 10 days. Any medical decisions should be made in consultation with your doctors. New York: LFB Scholarly Publishing LLC. People seek advice from this leader and rally for his support. Watch for a taboo sign outside the front of the house indicating the family should not be disturbed because the house is being protected from evil spirits. A Fresno Journal article by Patricia Leigh Brown, , describes how members of the Hmong American Writers Circle are addressing a new kind of coming of age in America, as the first generation to grow up with a written language rather than the traditional spoken word. Traditionally, Hmong believe the placenta is required for reincarnation and bury it at the place of birth, under the house. New Year (traditionally marking the end of one agricultural year and start of next) is a time for family reunions, community gatherings and meeting prospective mates/partners. The Hmong perform many ritual ceremonies for the purpose of fulfilling the will of the ancestors and natural spirits. (Cha, 2003), Hmong recognize that illness can be a result of external natural forces, such as accidents and infectious diseases. The facial features of Grass Hmong is found fairly close to KamTai populations. It is considered inappropriate to tell the visitors there is no time to visit. Many people drowned or were killed. See: Consider Lead and Other Heavy Metal Toxicities in the Evaluation of Nonspecific Symptoms.). Hmong people are traditionally not individualistically oriented, but identify the self as a member of the family, clan and community. Growing flax to weave cloth and make clothes is a very hard and sophisticated job, requiring the ingenuity and perseverance . Traditionally, it is considered inappropriate for the opposite genders to sit too close to one another when conversing. The ceremony is an occasion for naming the child and for relatives and community members to offer blessings and words of wisdom to the child. Personal communication. Spirits of nature include mountains, trees, streams, valleys, caves, ponds, and winds. A drum is beaten, the reed pipes are played, and a special ritual expert is invited to sing the song Opening the Way, which will guide the reincarnating soul of the deceased back to the original village of ancestors, from where it will be reborn. (Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health at the University of Queensland, 2003), A necklace is placed on the newborn babys neck often before the cord is cut to protect the infant from harm and ill health. A white or black woven octagon shaped basket made of bamboo or plastic may be placed next to the leaves. Hmong shamans perform ritual trances in order to figure out the causes of illnesses for the purpose of treating the effects. Refugee arrivals peaked at 27,000 in 1980. Only 3.8% of the country is arable land. If the patient, especially an elder Hmong person, does not receive any medicine, it is appropriate to explicitly explain to the patient the reason no medication is given. Variations in rituals are found in the practices among different clans and lineages and are passed down from generation to generation through oral tradition. Shamans are people who mediate between the visible and spirit worlds through ritual practices conducted for purposes of healing, divination, and control over natural events . In the US, changing a name can be complicated and so male babies are more commonly given their adult name at birth. To make elopements and catch-hand marriages legitimate, the bride price would be negotiated and paid afterward. Adult and elderly males are looked upon for wisdom and skills for handling marital conflicts and problems within the community. Answer (1 of 31): Urban Mongolians overlap considerably with East Asians, especially Koreans, Japanese and northern Chinese. Other causes of illness known to the Hmong include heredity, metaphysical imbalance (similar to the Chinese concept of Yin/Yang), weather, stress, and reckless behavior. Many homes have a family member specializing in healing herbs. Some elderly Hmong might consult with relatives or the clan leader or a community member with knowledge of the legal system before permitting the police to enter their home. In the homeland, each family would have their own New Year dinner in their home, and they would take turns going to each others houses to share the dinner. Washington, DC 20036 Wrist/neck stringing is when a string (usually a thin white yarn or woven red cloth) is tied to a persons wrist (or neck) to bring good luck and health. Due to the food bias, Hmong people practicing the new religion may decline to attend family gatherings organized by relatives who still practice shamanism, weakening the Hmong community network. Solid foods were introduced when a child showed interest and were mostly the same foods adults ate, just watered down versions. If she has only daughters, then she does not gain prestige. Culhane-Pera, K.A., Vawter, D. E., Xiong, P., Babbitt, B., & Solberg, M. M (Eds.). Through pleas for asylum brought by Hmong human rights groups in the U.S., in June 2004 refugees from Wat Tham Krabok began arriving in the U.S. Marriage between members of the same clan no matter how distant the relationship is strictly forbidden. In Washington State, less than 12 percent of Hmong receive public assistance. The organization was established by a coalition of Mien, Hmong and Khmuu people in May 2005, after eight years of planning. The number of clans is commonly said to be 18, though 12 may be considered the main clans. The traditional wedding itself can last days, with chant readings and feasting. A boy often would concentrate attention on a certain girl. Cha, D. (2003). Traditionally they should eat hot rice and chicken soup with special herbs for 30 days post partum. Since the late 18th century, the Hmong alone among the Miao groups have slowly migrated out of the southern provinces of China, where about 2.7 million still remain. Refugee arrivals peaked at 27,000 in 1980, and decreased to less than 5,000 by 1981. (Hmong Cultural Center, 2000), Traditionally, Hmong women and men work until they no longer can carry out their daily tasks feeding the farm animals, farming, and tending family duties. Traditionally, a large number of relatives that could be readily called upon provided an element of security to farmers who had to move periodically. People had similar lives and there was no large income gap causing people to look down on each other. The men in the family may consult traditional healers for advice about health care decisions. The soul caller observes the chicken killed and boiled to divine whether the soul has returned and in what condition. If that fails, the next level of the hierarchy will take over. Older Hmong males, especially, may suffer loss of social status and feelings of family fragmentation and isolation, leading to loss of self esteem and despair. The Plain of Jars in the northeast and the Bolovens Plateau in the southern panhandle sit about three thousand feet above sea level. Law enforcement: Police officers may be perceived as frightening authority figures and bearers of bad news. See a May 25, 2013 New York Times article about a program in which construction and maintenance of community gardens and adjoining meeting spaces for Hmong and other immigrant communities are made possible by the California Mental Health Services Act of 2004. Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Use in Individuals 12 Years of Age and Older -- Fact Sheet for Recipients and Caregivers - Hmoob (Hmong) PDF. A identified a case in which the likely source of lead exposure in a young child in the U.S. was a traditional amulet made in Cambodia with leaded beads that was worn by the child. The Hmong community, which hails primarily from Southeast Asia and parts of China, were largely recruited to fight on behalf of the U.S. in the "Secret War" in Laos in the 1960s. Generally a Hmong patient expects that he/she will receive medicine when visiting the doctor. Date Authored: May 01, 2007 In addition, Hmong is mono-syllabic so one syllable represents one word or meaning. Through this article, we will discover its various features and influences on the Hmong community. It is said people have 12 souls the three major ones are the reincarnation soul, the residing soul and the wandering soul. In the US, the gap between household incomes has resulted in decreased community coherence. A couple may elope or marry without parental permission, but the more usual and proper custom involves the groom, or a go-between, gaining permission of the brides parents, or an engagement is arranged by both sets of parents. Hmong youth are fans of Laotian popular music from Laos and from the United States and France, both Hmong and Laotian bands. Evidence suggests the Hmong lived in Siberia as similarities are seen between the Hmong and Siberian shaman practices. Hmong health professionals consider this new habit of drinking juice, punch, sodas and/or alcoholic drinks during meals to be a factor for the rising diabetes and chronic diseases among many Hmong adults and elder people. In the United States, Hmong men often wait to marry until their late teens or early twenties when they are finished with their education, though it is still relatively common for girls to marry in their middle teens. The CIA coordinated efforts against Laotian Communists, the Pathet Lao, in partnership with Hmong military leader General Vang Pao and the Royal Lao Government. Discipline is usually administered after the guests have left. The affinity of sub clan members to each other is great. This is still practiced by some clan members. Shamans communicate messages from spirits to the persons affected, and vice versa. See also China: People. Due to the various influences of acculturation, the Hmong community has become less cohesive in the United States compared to life in Laos or other homelands. Elder people are highly respected, and its expected they will be taken care of by the younger generation. She specializes in healing with herbs and may be a generalist or may be dedicated to healing certain conditions. Here is the translation and the Hmong word for facial features: ntsej muag nta Edit. The climate is tropical monsoon, with a rainy season May to November and a dry season December to April. The White Hmong and the Green Hmong traditionally lived in separate villages, rarely intermarried, spoke different dialects, had different forms of womens dress, and lived in houses of different architectural patterns. The countrys major means of transportation is the Mekong River. The Hmong language, from the Hmong-Mien or Miao-Yao family of languages, is spoken by a portion of the ethnic Miao living in southern China, northern Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. In cases of serious sickness or misfortune, a shaman is invited to the house, where he enters a possessive trance in order to visit the otherworld and locate the missing soul of the patient. Although a variety of scripts are now in use for the language, messianic movements persist. Among the Hmong American population 16 years and over, 17% work in the managerial, professional and related occupations; 21% work in sales & office occupations; 16% work in s service occupations; less than 1% in farming, forestry, & fishing; 5% in construction & maintenance; 42% in production & transportation. Typically, in cases where their children are interrupting or not behaving well in the presence of guests, Hmong parents do not send their children away or discipline them. It is standard etiquette after dinner not to linger at the table. He directs the spirits toward the patients aliments through different media like bowls of water, knives or breath. Those who practice the new religion may no longer want to eat the food, especially from the celebration of a new birth or a New Year feast, prepared by those who still practice shamanism. The Green Hmong and White Hmong share some clan names. Mountains and the Mekong River valley are the main geographic features. They learn from other shaman. It was somewhat common in Laos and Thailand for a younger woman to marry an older man. Among Christian Hmong, prayer is also used to seek healing. The purpose of the dowry cap is to prevent parents from imposing unreasonably high wedding fees (i.e. Hmong 2000 Census Publication: Data and Analysis, pp. Retrieved September 19, 2006, Hmong National Development, Inc. & Hmong Cultural Resource Center (2003). Almost all aspects of traditional Hmong life are affected by contact with supernatural beings. If all the Hmong learn the English language it would be easier for others to give them jobs because they can communicate. Throughout life, people learn about home therapies for common conditions like colds and aches, and sometimes for other issues as varied as arthritis and fertility. In Laos, many adolescent Hmong courtships were begun at the time of the annual New Years celebrations. The girl would sometimes reply with her own mouth harp or another instrument, and the dialogue sometimes continued for hours. In the Thai refugee camps, women adopted Thai-style baby baskets or cradles, often hanging from the tent roof or dwelling while the mother performed chores or embroidery work. In particular surgery may conflict with beliefs that a person needs all his/her body parts for reincarnation, that surgery weakens the body or leaves the body open to evil spirits entering. The Hmong place of honor at the table is midway on the side. People may perceive they are receiving sub-par care because they are poor, lack insurance, are seen for so little time by the doctor, or feel the doctors impatience. The Hmong are an ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. The thinking of community leaders and health professionals is that gardens can help foster resiliency and a sense of purpose for refugees, especially older ones, who are often isolated by language and poverty and experiencing depression and post-traumatic stress. For example, when the brides brother greets the groom, they both must drink to seal the greeting. In the United States, the changing roles between the young and the old has altered the traditional social structure, with older members relying on the younger people for language and income assistance. Per average Hmong household there are 6.28 persons, versus 2.59 persons overall US households. (Mote, 2004). For instance, if the first child is a boy, it is said that the daughter in-law/wife has brought good fortune. The Hmong people used to cut the ears and tail of these dogs as . Shaman ceremonial tools include a gong and a wooden bench, and rituals involve going into trance, long chanting, and sacrificing animals, usually chickens or pigs. The differences between White and Green Hmong can be compared to the kinds that exist between British and American English. In spoken Hmong, ideas are wrapped in words in a non-linear way. Retrieved December 22, 2006. Menopause is not discussed in the community. Laos covers about ninety-one thousand square miles, an area similar to that of the United Kingdom or slightly larger than Utah. The Hmong people relocated throughout their history, maintaining a strong sense of cultural identity and independence. Hmong, ethnic group living chiefly in China and Southeast Asia and speaking Hmong, one of the Hmong-Mien languages (also known as Miao-Yao languages). (Vue, L. & Lor, K., 2006). 919 North Court St. Omissions? (Mote, 2004). Traditionally, young pregnant women are encouraged not to inform others about the pregnancy due to a fear of evil spirits that would endanger the pregnancy leading to spontaneous abortion. Dylan belongs to the Hmong, a community of war refugees and their descendants who . The majority of Hmong living in the United States today are those who came directly from Laos or via Thai refugee camps. There is a belief that drinking cold water or failing to eat properly can lead to having wrinkles or skin rashes, or walking bent over in old age. Traditionally, the clans provided any social services required of their members. Also retrieved September 19, 2006, from http://hndinc.org/content/view/41/. Donnelly, N. (2006). One common event among Hmong living in the US is Hmong New Year celebration. Modern health care is believed to be beneficial, but traditional diagnosis and treatment (either herbal or spiritual) may be used first. Men are entrusted with performing rituals of ancestor worship, such as calling the names of ancestors during occasions like New Year, weddings, christenings, new harvests, and family feasts, invoking the dead kin to take part in these events and bring protection and good fortune to the family and household. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press. In traditional Hmong culture, sons were desired because parents could never live in the same house with daughters and sons in-law due to spiritual reasons. TRADITIONAL COSTUMES . Rice is a staple in Hmong cuisine. This issue contributes to social problems caused by teenagers having no supervision at home after school. Traditionally, Hmong men receive their adult names after the first child is born. Men have a higher status than women publicly, while women hold their power more privately. One solution to minimize the challenge of family feud for both Hmong parents and children is to encourage parents to teach family values and secure funding to teach Hmong history/values so children raised in the US could better live in both worlds Hmong and Western cultures. Hmong 101. About 1,000 Hmong live in Seattle, Burien, Renton, Bellevue, Mount Lake Terrace, and Carnation. Some family members may learn to call a soul home. Households are classified by the race or detailed Asian group of the head. Hmong rituals usually revolve around the practices that their ancestors passed onto them. Eventually, the clan became included in the name. A couple may elope if the girl is trying to avoid an unwanted union or when the parents do not consent to the union of a couple who wish to be together. Missionaries in China in the 1800s and in Laos in the 1900s first introduced Christianity to the Hmong. Most Hmong believe that the ancestors with the strongest potential impact come from the fathers side of the family. People may be hesitant to say much or respond to questions asked by the police, being afraid of saying the wrong things due to their limited English ability. Spirits of nature can cause physical and psychological harm to Hmong in the guise of illness, nightmares, and even death. The reason is that she belongs to her husband and her in-laws household, so she is called only by her husbands name once she is married. Learn more about theannual Hmong New Year Celebration at Seattle Center. The Hmong parents are to help look after the sons children (their grandchildren), except in the case when the parents are not able due to very old age or medical condition. The New Years game typically provided an outlet for the emergence of more intense romances. In the 1800s, faced with political persecution, depleted soil fertility and increasing population pressure, some Hmong migrated into Southeast Asia. The sub clan is divided into smaller groups of families, or ceremonial households, who share the same ancestor. Recent efforts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California opened the US doors to let some Hmong refugees join with their families in the US. Post-traumatic stress disorder may be prevalent among Hmong in the United States. From 1963-1975 during the Vietnam War and the CIAs secret war in Laos, the Hmong were recruited for their military skill and trained and fought on the side of the United States. In Laos, girls and boys in their adolescent years have the same responsibilities as adults. Remembering ancestors, their accomplishments and their sufferings, and preserving traditional ways are highly important. Saykao, P. (1997). Can find topics such as Hmong Clans, Traditional Hmong Religion, Etiquette for Interacting with the Hmong, Information for Visitors to a Hmong Home http://www.hmongcc.org/ The residing soul stays with the body as it breaks down and becomes the ancestral spirit that descendants revere and pay homage to. While having a big family is valued, it does not necessarily lead to higher status. (Culhane-Pera,et.al., 2003). Hmong New Year has changed in its way of being celebrated in the US. The reincarnation soul leaves the body at death and is reborn in another beings body. Over centuries, people migrated south into Tibet and China, in the provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Hunan. During traditional Hmong weddings, wine and/or beer are offered each time a negotiation is made or when a new conversation takes place between a member of the bride and grooms family members. Chinese text suggests the Hmong originated in 2300 B.C. However, contrary to popular conceptions, Mongolians don't look that different from East Asians, nor are they much more robust. Feasting on special occasions usually includes a menu of roast pig or boiled pork soup, fruit, boiled eggs, egg rolls, seasoned meats, vegetables, rice, and salad. They have darker brown eye color to almost black. A shaman is the supreme spiritual healer whose primary means of patient care is to travel to the spirit world. If a person is of a particular clan, he is automatically welcomed into the house of another clan member, even if they do not personally know each other. If his last name is Vue, his full name would then be Nao Vang Vue. Once the face candidates are found, the facial-features are located using classifiers trained with examples of facial features.Face detection is carried out at a very low resolution with the purpose of speeding up the algorithm. Hmong believe the liver is the center and regulator of human emotions, playing a role in mental health and personality. Washington, D.C., St. Paul, Minnesota. Traditionally, the stigma of being called an old maid is a factor for girls marrying very young. A man may have more than one wife; co-wives live together in the same house and treat their children equally. A community estimate puts the total number of Hmong living in the U.S. at a much higher number, 283,239. Hmong believe that if a bad spirit hears such comments, it might come and take the childs soul away. Children generally grow up with their needs responded to quickly and help in the work of a family at a young age. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Since clan identity passes from the father to children, a person is allowed to marry into their mothers clan and there is a custom of doing this. The decision should be made by the Hmong.