Hmong Style

[2wheels]

The Hmong New Year celebrations continue.
This 3 day event was at Mae Sa Mai, but it will be at a different village next year.





I parked alongside this village store and the owner looked after my helmet and heavies so that I didn't need to lug them around all day.



It sure was a colourful day; almost a visual overload with many thousands of Hmong proudly displaying the prized traditional costumes.















They just poured into the place throughout the entire day.









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High heels in that rocky, sandy, mountains terrain; those girls are tough.



Despite lots (and lots) of beer being consumed throughout a warm day I didn't see any loutish behaviour.







Around about now I saw a white CRF weaving its way throughout the crowd, ridden by 'Gnasher' Tim, so we shared the rest of the day with the Hmong
(and about 10 'Farang' visitors.



The fish tank was a money spinner and a great source of fun for the kids.
Pay 10 baht for a small, flat sieve covered in water absorbent tissue and try to scoop out a fish to take home.













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One of the Matriarchs of the village who would have seen a lot of changes in her people during her time.
Thankfully, the Hmong language survives as does their kinship system and the incredible costumes.
And their love of steep mountains!





















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'Prawns anyone?'
They've only been out in the sun for a couple of hours!

















Meanwhile the fish numbers had been somewhat depleted back at the ever-popular fish tank.













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This was the cool spot for socialising.









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For info about this traditional and very meaningful game see 'A Day with the Hmong'.






























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It was good to have a bike and not a car!
So there it was; another colourful day with the friendly Hmong.

 

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From the current issue of 'Chiang Mai Mail'.
The Editor is very supportive of bike events and will promote them.
(I have her contact if anyone needs it).

Hmong New Year celebrations

View attachment 14255

​

The Hmong women wear the most colourful hats and costumes for the New Year celebrations that see entire villages take part in the festival.


The Chiang Mai Mail is always thrilled to receive photos and stories of interesting events from our readers. One of our most intrepid readers has sent in these lovely photos of the Hmong New Year celebrations in Ban Mae Sa Mai along with the following report;

View attachment 14256
Elaborate costumes with embroidery, beading and flamboyant colours are the most beautiful part of the entire New Year.

The Hmong New Year celebrations continue!
I rode out to Ban Mae Sa Mai, just off the Samoeng loop road, on 15th January to join in the celebrations.
The village had arranged a three day and night festival during which wooden cart racing, traditional ball tossing, food and game stalls and 'a bit of drinking' was enjoyed by many thousands of visitors.
The highlight of the occasion was definitely the colourful display of traditional Hmong costumes.
Men, women and children were all dressed in their finest and the result was spectacular.
The mountain communities move their celebrations from village to village, so the event will be held else-where next year. 'Reader Ron'
​

 

[KTMphil]

Well captured (as usual)

 

[Just Bob]

Fantastic Ron!

And timely. I just met a Hmong woman yesterday here in Utah. I'll point her to this post. I'm sure she and her family will love it.

 

[2wheels]

Thanks Phil & Bob.
It was an intense event.

Bob, can you ask your Hmong friend if any aspects of the clothing has a meaning?
e.g. the guys wear silver coins (many French francs). I'm thinking that may be an indication of the wearer's wealth.
Why coins?

With the girls, does a particular colour have a particular meaning?
Also with the girls they were wearing varying styles of head-wear. Any meaning there?

Rgs

 

[Lone Rider]

Ron,

You might find some of the answers on your questions here:

[h=1]http://culturekits.homestead.com/files/clothing.html[/h]
Hmong people - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Globalised Threads: Costumes of the Hmong Community in North Queensland by Maria Wronska-Friend http://epress.anu.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/globalised.pdf

 

[Just Bob]

The Hmong girl I met was born in the US. Very beautiful and you can see her heritage clearly. Her dad is the one I need to meet and talk to. I'm told he was born in Laos and evacuated by the Americans when they bailed out of the war. I'm also told he still speaks Hmong along with a little Lao and Thai. I'll see what I can learn.

 

[2wheels]

Thanks Auke, will check.
Will be interesting what Bob's Hmong friend has to say.

 

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" The Hmong groups in Laos, from the 18th century to the present day, are known as Black Hmong (Hmoog Dub/Moob Dlub), Striped Hmong (Hmoob Txaij/Moob Txaij), White Hmong (Hmoob Dawb/Moob Dlawb), and Green Hmong (Hmoob Ntsuab/Moob Leej). In other places in Asia groups are also known as Black Hmong (Hmoob Dub/Moob Dlub or Hmong Den), Striped Hmong (Hmoob Txaij or Hmoob Quas Npab), Hmong Shi, Hmong Pe, Hmong Pua, and Hmong Xau, Hmong Xanh (Green Hmong), Hmong Do (Red Hmong), Na Mieo and various other subgroups.[SUP][4][/SUP] These include the Flower Hmong or the Variegated Hmong (Hmong Lenh or Hmong Hoa), so named because of the bright colorful embroidery (called pa ndau, literally "flower cloth") "

Now to the ornaments.​

 

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" Dabtshos

The dabtshos (pronounced da chaw) is a decorative panel worn in the back of a Hmong woman'straditional blouse. It is attached to the neckline of the blouse and hangs down. The top half of the dabtshos(da chaw) is generally made from the same fabric as the blouse. The bottom half is decorated withembroidery, applique, or cross stitch. The rectangular panel is bordered with brightly coloredfabric.

The dabtshos (da chaw) plays an important role in the Hmong culture. It is a required part of the woman'straditional clothing. If a woman does not wear her dabtshos (da chaw) at New Years, other people would thinkit very strange. In fact, during the Hmong New Year celebration, girls and women wear the mostintricate dabtshos that they own.

The needlework on the dabtshos is used as a way for a young woman to attract a husband. If she iswearing a beautifully decorated panel that shows off her mother's sewing skills, many boys will want tobe her partner in the ball toss.

The patterns that embellish the White Hmong and Blue Hmong dabtshos are different.Dabtshos are also different depending on the age and status of the girl. The easiest way to decorate a dabtshosis by using cross stitch. This type of dabtshos is usually worn by young girls. They are sometimes made by the girl'solder sister, who is still practicing her needlework skills. Dabtshos made with cross stitch are notsuitable for older girls or women to wear for the New Year. They wear fancier panels with intricateapplique or embroidery designs.

When a woman dies, she is buried with a special dabtshos called a dabtshos laus (pronouncedda chaw lao). It has a different design and is much larger than a dabtshos that is worn as part of her traditionalclothing. It is customary for the woman's daughter or daughter-in-law to make a dabtshoslao for her while she is still alive. This beautifully embroidered cloth is made in her honor to wear in the afterlife. "

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica]Sources: Khou Thao, Joe Bee Xiong, Touly Xiong, Ken Her[/FONT]

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At the event I did notice several senior women examining the stitch-work on various costumes.

 

[Loop]

Billy Kart racing was a bit of fun...sponsored by Red Bull too!!

 

[Loop]

Anyone got any idea where and when this event is this year...this weekend?