Everyone invited to Hmong New Year's bash A young Asian boy gets a taste of Hmong cuisine in this file photo (photo by Tina Gohr). This year's early celebration aims for more Hmong-American integration By Monique Balas News-Chronicle New Year's Day is arriving a little early this season. That is, the Hmong New Year, and it comes with a couple of twists. "This year we have opened it to the whole community of Green Bay; we're trying to introduce Hmong people to American culture," said event secretary Mao Ly. "Before, it was always open but there was never that invitation to the community that it was open to the community, so not a lot of other minorities came to the celebration." By inviting local community leaders, service agencies and representatives from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Ly said organizers hope to build bridges between the two cultures like never before. Many Hmongs, especially older ones, don't understand American culture very well, "so our goal is to introduce them to that to make them feel more comfortable in the U.S. and have better feelings for and toward the American culture," Ly said. The event is sponsored by the United Hmong Community Center Inc. and Hmong Community of Brown County. Hmong food, movies and merchandise will be available for purchase, and a feast will be held from noon-2 p.m. Yia Thao, president of the United Hmong Community Center, will speak about native New Year celebrations. Other activities include offer ball tossing, a traditional Hmong courting ritual now practiced mainly for entertainment purposes. A Hmong band from Milwaukee will play Hmong and American music from 7 p.m.-midnight. The Hmong New Year traditionally is celebrated on Nov. 29, but this year the event will take place in October because funding limitations ruled out some dates and facilities, said event chairman Vaughn Vang. Organizers managed pull it together through fund-raising and the donated use of Neng Yee Kang's performance center. Vang said the organizing committees aimed at a very low admission fee to be considerate of people with large families and consistent with Hmong culture. For many traditional Hmongs, whose only holiday is the New Year, the season represents a chance to start over. Traditional culture dictates the solving of any ongoing conflicts or problems and spending two weeks preparing and sharing food. Vang said Hmongs believe those who do not follow the traditional customs could have a poor year ahead of them. "This is the best opportunity to learn about Hmong culture, because there's so much - it's all there, it's all in front of you," said Ly, who is Hmong but was born and raised in the United States. "Being there and being present is such a wonderful experience. Every year I go, I always learn something new." FYI: A Hmong New Year celebration will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday at Neng Yee's Performance Center, 1119 N. Military Ave. Cost is a $5 donation after 5 p.m. Call 432-8900 for more information.