Celebrating the Hmong New Year with YWCA Minneapolis Beacon Learning Center

The Hmong New Year has been celebrated from generation to generation for many hundreds of years in the Hmong community from Asia, Europe, Australia, South America and North America. The Hmong New Year follows the lunar calendar (moon phases) when the harvest of crops like rice, corn and vegetables are traditionally picked and put away.

Hmong International Academy (HIA) Hosts Celebration

HIA in North Minneapolis hosted a Hmong New Year celebration on November 24 during the school day for students and an evening program for families followed by dinner. Staff, administration, students and about 350 families were present during the Hmong New Year celebration. The events showcased many performances in dance, music and singing. The gathering celebrated both Hmong culture and the Hmong New Year.

YWCA Minneapolis Beacon Learning Center Involvement

The YWCA Beacon Learning Center staff at HIA helped host the Hmong New Year celebration. YWCA Beacon Learning Center staff assisted in food preparation, food service and cleanup of the evening program. In addition, YWCA Beacon Learning Center staff supervised the performances. We are proud to call the event a success, including parent comments that described the event as “magical” and “magnificent”.

Join Us Next Year

The Hmong New Year program is an annual event at HIA. Anyone interested in the event next school year can visit the Hmong International Academy website in the beginning of the 2017 - 2018 school year, or check in with YWCA Beacon Learning Center staff during the Fall Semester next year for fliers. The event is free and open to families of students attending HIA, as well as friends of families who attend HI