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Seattle Center Festal Hosts Hmong New Year Celebration November 6, 2010
by BWW News Desk Seattle Center Festal: Hmong New Year Celebration,
Saturday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., in Center House, helps to preserve the unique traditions of this Southesast Asian highland
culture that originates in the mountains of China, Laos and Thailand. Dance, traditional music, historical exhibits and the
customary courtship ritural of ball tossing demonstrate this culture's compelling legacy. The
Lunar New Year is a time to welcome the prosperity of the coming year and the passing of the previous year. This year's celebration
features:
New Breed, a young and upcoming band from California, who has performed at various New Years throughout the
country.
Toucer and his band from North Carolina performing with guest singer Yee
Khang.
The famous Hmong actor Nuj Nplaib (Kue Lee), who is known for his leading role in many Hmong movies.
Ntxhais Thaj Yeeb cultural dancers from California. They have competed in several competitions in
that state, taking 1st place at the Fresno Hmong International New Year.
The festival features a special exhibit in the
Harrison Gallery by Hmong artist Seexeng Lee of Minnesota. SeeXeng is an art teacher at Minneapolis South High School. He
strives to preserve the Hmong culture through his art while inspiring the youth to identify what is Hmong. He will also give
a lecture in Center House Conference Room H.
The 22 Festál cultural celebrations
highlight The Common forms of tradition and expression among ethnic communities in the Pacific Northwest, while underscoring
their unique creative contributions, customs, foods and ideals. Our 2010 "did you know" explore some of these commonalities
and differences.
Did you know? Purple and green are the colors of the culture. Beef salad or "Laab"
is a favorite food, and the staple is white rice, eaten with variety of vegetables, hot peppers and boiled or fried meat.
Soy, fish, hoisin sauce, garlic, lemongrass and cilantro are common ingredients. The greatest source of cultural pride is
derived from the Hmong kinship and clan system, where regardless of geography; members are welcome within the same clan. The
Hmong people produce intricate clothing patterns or "flower clothes." Integrated cultivation of dry rice, maize,
and opium poppy, silverwork and handmade woven clothing also contribute to the Hmong livelihood.
Seattle
Center Festál: Hmong New Year Celebration is presented by Seattle Center in partnership with the Hmong Association
of Washington. For a full event schedule, visit www.hmongassociationofwa.org, and for more information on this cultural series
and other Seattle Center programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com/festal or call 206 684-7200. About
Seattle Center Festál Seattle Center Festál, a series of 22 world festivals
presented at Seattle Center on weekends throughout 2010, highlights the distinct cultures and common threads of ethnic communities
in our region through traditional and contemporary art, music, foods, youth activities, workshops and more. This collection
of cultural events is produced with the generous support of Wells Fargo, Verizon Wireless and KUOW 94.9 Public Radio. Additional
support is provided by Seattle Center Foundation and the City of Seattle.
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