hmong blessing ceremony

Our culture believes in spirits and that every person, whether unborn, born, alive or not, forever has one. The Iu Mien or Iu Mian people number about 5 million. First, the bride and groom, who would each have two attendants to assist in the ceremony, would walk to opposite ends of the wedding table and the attendants would spread out a rug for the bride. The maykong will then conclude and announce that there will be no more drinks. Observers of the Hmong faith believe in reincarnation, making funeral ceremonies that much more impactful. It ends with the groom and best man consuming drinks from every member of the bride's family. The celebration is to acknowledge the completion of the rice-harvesting seasonthus, the beginning of a new yearso that a new life can begin as the cycle of life continues. After an autopsy takes place (if necessary), a designated family elder begins the rites by gathering extended family members. Hmong people believe in tying strings for blessing, luck and even protection. Some couples have two ceremonies -- one traditional, and one modern (to make it legal). 4. The Navajo have a saying, "whatever happens here on Earth must first be dreamed", and that's exactly what a Blessingway does. Do not use the word "finish", but use the word "clear" instead. advice. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. A traditional Hmong funeral doesnt include a funeral director. coupleswedding-and-ceremony-planningreligion-and-rituals. The groom's family approaches the bride's family and asks her parents for her hand in marriage. Only then can the soul be reincarnated. His Sickness Came Back Kyson came home with a fever from school. This joyous ceremony that honors happy milestones, including births, marriages or graduations. After three days, the parents of the groom will prepare the first wedding feast for the newlywed couple (Hu plig nyab tshiab thaum puv peb tag kis). Light is considered pure, it dispels darkness, nourishes life, and illuminates everything. Both of these things occur, but there is much more to it. For example, not all guests who want to pay their respects will know how to give joss paper. But you can still bring a respectful gift to a Hmong funeral. At this time, rice and chunks of boiled meats are servedand everyone will introduce themselves to the groom, best man and the bridesmaid. There is no reception, only meals and feasts that are often selected by the clan and negotiators. We cook a lot of food, invite family, a shaman performs the blessing ceremony and everyone ties a white string around her and our wrists to wish is luck in life and give Lillian gifts (money). Heres a primer for the insightful planner. Thanks everyone for coming! Of course death is not a joyous occasion, but marks the transition for the human soul.1A typical Hmong funeral lasts for three days and nights. The golden joss paper, folded into a heart and attached to a branch or stick, is a traditional funeral offering for the deceased. We prepped for the funeral by making paper boats and flowers, which serve as money in the spiritual world. And so, in a 1,600-square-foot rambler, my family is prepared to jam fifty to sixty people. Create a free online memorial to gather donations from loved ones. Click here to check out the PDF on everything you need to know about Hmong funerals. The third day of a Hmong funeral is full of music. They believe the Creator birthed the body from the earth, so it must return to the earth through decomposition. 7. Dinner is then usually served after all members of the bride's family have arrived. Family members and family friends tie white strings around the wrists of the guest of honor. The traditional ceremony, performed by Hmong elder Gnia Vue Lor (Nea Voo Lor) calls attention the past year and calls forth a new year filled with new blessings. On the final day, the family performs a xi. They must also reenact the Apache Origin Myth drawing each female participant closer to the first woman, known as White Painted Woman, Changing Woman, or simply Esdzanadehe. After the funeral and burial, the Hmong people believe that the soul remains at its gravesite for 13 days. Find out what to do and discover resources to help you cope. Hu Plig (who plee), a soul calling ceremony performed by shamans, when the soul has been frightened away. This begins the negotiation process for a bride price. After the burial, the 13-day mourning period begins. If youre attending the Hmong funeral of a friend, feel free to offer any gift that feels suitable to you. The traditional songs include "Song of Mounting the Way" and "Departure of the Deceased," which are played on a special instrument called a qeej.The qeej is made of bamboo, which is, believed to be the first plant on earth. The Hmong are pantheists, believing in a variety of natural and super natural spiritual forces living in and animating all things. Hmong people believe that life goes on after death. I would ask but everytime I do she always says I don't need to bring anything (her Hmong wedding) and later I learn different. Because their traditional marriages dont involve certificates or clergy to solemnize them, most Hmong Americans choose modern-leaning ceremonies with a wedding officiant and marriage license to ensure their unions are recognized. For a newborn infant, the first soul enters his or her body when he or she is conceived in the mother's womb. The Hmong belief is that this process can be very confusing because there are so many different paths to follow. (2010). Correct misconducts of your neighbors by telling the maykong. Good luck! However, today they typically last 3 or 4 days. Thetxiv xaivreceives words that the deceased were not able to say to their loved ones while they were still alive and so use thetxiv xaivas a medium. What should a guest not do at a Hmong wedding? 1. Stay up to date with the latest wedding ceremony trends, script writing inspiration, tips and advice for first-time officiants, and news that matters to couples and wedding ministers. The bridesmaid will sleep next to the bride in order to prevent her from running off and doing improper and unbecoming things such as returning to an ex. I believe Lao calls it "Baci", (not sure on the spelling of that.) Hu Plig can also be done for someone who has been out of the country and initiated for someone who has not had a Hu Plig ceremony done for them in a while. Negotiations of price and gifts can take several hours to complete. Two of these chickens are from the groom's side and the other two are from the bride's side. Our premiere package contains everyting you need to officiate like a pro. Additionally, Hmong cosmology shares the notion that the human body hosts multiple souls. Click here for more details on Hmong weddings. Hmong observers believe that the soul will observe its descendants during the funeral rites. Additionally, if the body faces east, it may be blinded by the sun. This is also the reason why the placenta is traditionally buried under the house in which the child was born. (Cha, 2010). player carries on the ceremonial music alone. The next morning the parents woke up so enraged at theDab Pogthat the spirit couple left.1. This is more substantial than the bride and groom only exchanging vows, for it shows the level of the union between the two entire families. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. 2. After the hand tying ceremony, everyone indulges in delicious traditional Hmong food and catch up. It is very important the groom and best man are aware of what is expected of them. It takes place in the home of the deceased, where family members will wait until it is time to perform the xi. Hmong brides began carrying umbrellas to and from their weddings a long time ago, when traditional ceremonies were complicated events that took several days to complete. I am Mexican so I don't know a lot about the Hmong rituals, and I end up embarrassed because I feel like I should have brought something and didn't. Do not criticize the maykang, for they do not want to be there in the first place. Even if no tears develop, they must make the sounds of crying, for this shows respect for the deceased. Image retrieved from:https://phoenixandfinch.wordpress.com/category/to-be-eaten/. The Hmong House: The Location of Shamanic Ritual, Hmong Religiosity and Shamanism In The Twin Cities, Hmong Religiosity and Shamanism in the Twin Cities, Christianity: Hmong Churches and "American" Churches, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Preparations for a funeral happen weeks before the funeral and many people are involved. The topic brings strong opinions from both sides, due to their unique role in the marriage process. The family then removes the body from the home and begins the journey to the gravesite. Hmonderns Blessing Strings consist of four different colors. Wedding Planner Magazine is a print publication that educates and inspires the wedding industry, By Anna Senrick, Sunrise Styling, LLC, St. Paul, Minn. photos by merina burda photography. When a husband dies, it is his clans responsibility to look after of the widow and children. Nov 27, 2017 - Traditional Hmong hand tie blessing ceremony/ hu plis kis tes centerpiece. Along the way to the gravesite, the funeral procession can often go down a confusing route or make purposeful mistakes to confuse evil spirits. We cook a lot of food, invite family, a shaman performs the blessing ceremony and everyone ties a white string around her and our wrists to wish is luck in life and give Lillian gifts (money). Just recently, the in-laws of my newlywed cousin held a Hu Plig ceremony for her. Other acceptable gifts for a Hmong funeral include food and donations to help cover funeral costs. The parents will not be told, but an envoy from the boys clan will be sent to inform them of the whereabouts of their daughter and her safety. At 5 p.m., my groom arrives with his best man, or phib laj, and two negotiators, or mej koob. You are most likely to attend these spiritual and untypical gatherings depending on how traditional your family is. After these three days, the family removes the body from the home, while the, player plays a ceremonial Song of Mounting the Way., As the procession makes its way to the gravesite, the musicians play the Departure Song or, . The multi-day rituals required the bride to travel back and forth between the grooms home and her own, and she was given an umbrella to protect her from the elements and evil spirits as she traveled. Now you can focus on leaving a legacy instead of a mess. Cha, Ya Po,An introduction to Hmong culture(Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2010),101., Hmong Religiosity and Shamanism In The Twin Cities, Hmong Religiosity and Shamanism in the Twin Cities, Hmong Rituals: Birth, Marriage, Death, Healing, Christianity: Hmong Churches and "American" Churches, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. These chickens are meant for the maykong only and this signifies the conclusion of the ceremonial part of the wedding. The family members of the deceased will stay at the funeral for the entirety of the three days and nights and comfort each other. Your email address will not be published. Pictured is a photo of the stomachs being cleaned out. Ta sits up front with wife Yai. As the story goes, a young girl felt ready to get married yet her parents did not approve of it. Everything you need to know to officiate. Need inspiration? The ritual of a hu plig can be performed for those who are sick or recovering from a sickness. Learn from the Pros to Officiate with Confidence! Family, friends, and relatives pick up a white string and tie it on the honored person's hand while chanting a blessing. The two sons were called Lialue and Trumee. This is the best time to stop by and pay your respects as a non-family member. After these three days, the family removes the body from the home, while the qeej player plays a ceremonial Song of Mounting the Way.. FACTS ABOUT THE CLASS OF 2022 OF ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY. The shaman does their job at the shaman altar, something that all Hmong animists own in their home. It can be held any day of the week though it has to be on a good day in the lunar calendar. The ceremony begins with chanting of Sanskrit prayers from Buddhist prayer books. 9. The ceremony can be held for both sad times and happy times. However, if it is determined the husband had committedadultery or married a second wife and the wife can not continue being part of the family, she will have the option to leaving her husband without paying back the dowry. Instead, a Hmong family and the community, including a shaman, prepare the body and host the funeral themselves. Simillar to in the United states of america wedding ceremony processions, the bride within the Puerto Rican weddings [] Home; About Us. Having knowledge about what happens during the wedding ceremony can provide an insight into Hmong culture and can aid anyone planning on attending one. For the first three days of the bride's stay at the soon-to-be groom's house, she is not allowed to do any work and the husband usually gets her new clothing to start their life together. Hmong tradition teaches that when persons pass away, they will go back and visit each place that they have been to, with the last destination being their birthplace. . In this ceremony, friends and relatives tie white strings to the one(s) being blessed. The drummer and. Some things they may need to discuss include improper conduct by the groom during courtship, unresolved issues between clans, or whether anything about the wedding was done improperly. In Western culture, Hmong funerals must make some adaptations. What are some things guests should do at a Hmong wedding? blessing ceremony . It does not matter if she agrees, and once she enters the man's house there is no going back. Basically what a blessing ceremony is is a Hmong version of a baptism. Khi Tes (Hand tying with string). Hi Alma!Yes money in any amount is acceptable. 5. There may be traditional artwork or floral arrangements. subject to our Terms of Use. There are 2-4txiv qeej, men who play theqeej,an instrument that can be used for musical or ritual purposes. According to Toby Blackstar, a Native American funeral director, the Kiowa believe in-ground burial is the only acceptable way to release a body after death. Khi Tes is a Blessing String Hand Tying Ceremony and it is exactly what it sounds like. Hmong tradition teaches that when persons pass away, they will go back and visit each place that they have been to, with the last destination being their birthplace. of an actual attorney. (Cha, 2010). Each person is thought to have 12 parts of the soul. 3:30 PM -4:30 PM Hmong Blessing Ceremony (Hu Plig Khis Tes) Legacy Hill Farm. Historically, the Hmong New Year celebration was created to give thanks to ancestors and spirits as well as to welcome in a new beginning. A Site Dedication Ceremony was held during the opening ceremony for the Dragon Festival at Phalen Park, complete with a parade of lion dancers to the China Garden site where a Feng Shui Site Dedication ritual was performed by International Feng Shui expert Carole Hyder and a Hmong blessing was given by Hmong Elder Uncle Charles Vu. There are a few rounds of drinks, honorings of ancestors and spirits, and thanksgiving done at the groom's home before the wedding is finally considered over. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The elders are the ones who do the wedding negotiations and plans for the couple. (Cha, 2010). Many mothers have said that these birth beads give them strength and focus during labor. The fees for the advice of an attorney should not be compared to the fees of do-it-yourself online This method is the more honorable and traditional way. The qeej player then leads the way to the cemetery, followed by a woman carrying a torch. More rounds of drinking occur as the groom's maykong reports all of the events of the wedding and the settlements made to the family. They are are on their spiritual journey when they perform this task. Do not bring your own drinks, but drink what is being offered you. A Hmong funeral lasts from three to 12 days depending on several factors, such as finding a suitable burial day. As with many weddings in Asian cultures, traditional Hmong weddings are handled by the family and are intricately pre-planned or determined by ancestry, last name lineage, the value of the female/bride, and gifts to the brides family. A Hu Plig ceremony was completed to welcome her to the spiritual clan of her husbands family. [3] For example, a Xiong may not marry another Xiong. It is the groom's responsibility to know the process of how to go about becoming married in order to spare his family from both money and embarrassment. What do the maykong's negotiate during a wedding? Once the price has been set for the brides dowry, events move to the brides familys house for the ceremony. Wedding chants are performed by the maykong at every stage throughout the rest of the wedding. The umbrella and sheng is kept intact for three days, but everything else is then put away. If you are from the bride's side, always use the hand further to the head end of the table to pick up your drink. It is chosen because it can guide the soul back to its ancestors. Wedding chants accompany this asking for the umbrella, the cleansing of the house, bidding farewell, thanking the bride's family, and establishing foundations for future marriages between the families. At the end of the three-day long funeral, the deceased person is buried and all of the decorations made of paper money are burned so that the deceased person will go to a new place with the resources necessary for a comfortable life. The Hmong New Year celebrationspecifically based on both religious and cultural beliefsis an "in-house" ritual that takes place annually in every Hmong household. The second day of a Hmong funeral is the day of offerings, or qhua txws. The atmosphere of a Hmong funeral can be both traditional and modern. generalized educational content about wills. The family has to agree to the marriage and and previous feuds have to be settled in order for a couple to marry. As the procession makes its way to the gravesite, the musicians play the Departure Song or qeej saxv kev. There's no denying that this powerful tool aids in living mindfully and assists the wearer in utilizing the power of thought. Usage of any form or other service on our website is Spirits of nature are believed to possibly cause physical and mental harm to Hmong in the . The amount is settled by negotiation of the elders of both families prior to the engagement and usually is paid in bars of silver or livestock. During this time, all of the family members sit around thetxiv xaivwhile he tells them the words from their deceased loved one. The soul travels back to every place the person ever lived on Earth, ending in the burial location of the persons placenta. A hand-written and heartfelt card, or flowers with a sincere sympathy message attached, is almost always appreciated. Services last continually, 24 hours a day until Monday. It was a long and stressful day. It is usually late at night by this time, and the final occurrenceis boiling four whole chickens. Today, September 4, I had the honor of attending a Hmong blessing ceremony for a friend of mine, Nao Shoua Xiong. To seal the deal, the maykong will "sweep the table" (Cha, 2010). Thank you! A Blessingway is an ancient Navajo sacred spiritual ceremony performed by the Navajo people to celebrate rites of passage that occur throughout the entire life cycle. What happens before sending the groom and his crew off? Depending, on whether or not you are an immediate family member of the bride or groom, you dont have to be present during the whole wedding. Spirits inhabit all things, and Hmong people traditionally offer animal sacrifices and perform ritual ceremonies to maintain good relations with the spirits. Buddhist Monk Blessing Ceremony (06.30am) At 06:30 the early rising monks arrive to the front room and take place along the back wall. XO. The grooms family approaches the brides family and asks her parents for her hand in marriage.