18XEEM » Issue 03

Feb 08 | Issue 03 | Content

18XEEM — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:40:27 +0000

In this issue:

A SURVEY OF HMONG NEW YEARS

NEW BREED

THE ART OF TAXIDERMY

THE ROOTS OF HMONG HISTORY

MEET CHYNA

CONFESSIONS OF A BEAUTY QUEEN

Only available on print!

Preview of Content Page:

New Year Reflections

Hlee — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:25:02 +0000

Recently, I have noticed an increase in the number of Hmong magazines, and Asian publications, in general. Where once there was one or two magazines at the specialty Asian stores or Hmong cultural events, today the options seem to grow exponentially. Noticeably, a lot of them look like replicas of existing mainstream magazines. The influence of Western culture seems so pervasive that the only obvious difference is that all the models posing in the latest fashions on the glossy pages of these magazines are of Asian descent.

One thing is clear, Hmong (along with other Asian groups) are becoming increasingly familiar with mainstream media and are adapting it to suit their needs. Amid all of these new magazines, we believe that what sets 18XEEM apart is that the essence of our magazine is tradition, and that never goes out of style.

One day when I was feeling overwhelmed and disillusioned, a college professor told me to do the Zig-zag. I didn’t get it at first, but he went on to explain, “When everyone is doing one thing, you do the opposite, and when everyone follows, change your path so that you will always stand apart.” Interestingly, on two recent occasions, my father reminded me of this same concept (flip to the opposite side of this magazine if you are curious).

18XEEM is documenting life; preserving history; taking the ordinary and appreciating it for what it is; revealing the treasures of the unknown and the beauty of a culture. This year, our resolution is to celebrate our culture and the meaningfulness within our everyday. I hope you will enjoy this issue more than ever.

Please, join us in celebrating history and culture.

Meet Chyna

18XEEM — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:40:46 +0000

“When I wear Hmong, I tell myself that, we should remember our belief, cultures, values, so that people know who we are and where we came from.”

New Breed

18XEEM — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:32:57 +0000

“New Breed is Yeng Vang, lead vocalist and guitarist, Xai Vang, on keyboards, and Houa Vang on bass and vocals. We are a Hmong Rock/Alternative/Pop band from Oroville, California and we have been making music for about six years and currently have 3 albums out, including our newest release Los Txog Hnub No.

We wrote a special song titled “Suab Ntsuag Tsov Rog” to remember our struggling Hmong people in the jungles of Laos. Although their voice couldn’t be heard, we’d like to think that the song we wrote was their voice. In that aspect, a lot of people were able to relate to our lyrics.”
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Suab Ntsuag Tsov Rog

Suav txij li thaum lub teb chaws tau ntxeev
Vaj Pov tau tso Looj Ceeb khiav tawm Nplog Teb mus lawm
Phaj thiab laj los kav lub teb chaws
Hmoob Nplog Pub Thawj tau txais txoj kev nyob txom nyem

Nplog Liab ua phem zuj zus rau Hmoob
Sau sev lia tej qoob loo nrhiav txim rau cov txawj ntse
Cov neeg zoo raug ntes thoob Nplog Teb
Tseg poj tub sev ua ntsuag txiv mus lawm ntsiag to

Haiv neeg Nplog…….
Tau kev quaj nyiav
Thiab cov poj niam…….
Mi nyuam mus nyob hav zoo
Tseg tais mov nplej mus noj nplooj hmab nplooj ntoo
Nrog nas nrog noog ua neeg tiv tshav tiv nag

Nyob tsis taus khiav raws nom tswv qab
Nplog Liab lub siab txia ntshav raws tua txhua lub roob hav
Peb cov Hmoob ploj tuag suav tsis tag
Qab roob qab hav tshuav tej pob txha nyob dawb vog

Khiav tsis dhau poob rau rov tom qab
Los mus ris Asmesliskas lub txim ua tsov ua rog
Npaum no xyoo ntiaj teb koj puas pom
Tias daim av Nplog tseem tshuav leejtwg nyob hauv no
Tias daim av Nplog tseem tshuav leejtwg nyob hauv no
Tias daim av Nplog tseem tshuav kuv nyob rau hauv no

Click here to vist New Breed’s official website!

A Survey of Hmong New Years

18XEEM — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:23:44 +0000

Admission prices? Loud music blaring from all directions? Food? Organization? Multiple New Years celebrations? What’s your pet peeve about Hmong New Year? If you had a chance to change something about the event, what would it be? The Hmong New Year is celebrated at different times of the year throughout the world. In some cases, we believe it’s unfortunate because it creates a disconnect between people, but at the same time, we feel that it was inevitable, since Hmong have dispersed around the world and, over the years, have adapted traditional practices in different ways. It’s hard to find a designated date to celebrate the New Year; it’s even harder to get thousands of people together in one location. 18XEEM did an online survey to get a better understanding of how people felt towards the Hmong New Year festivals.

To read this entire article on print, please click here to subscribe.

My Name is Kong Lor.

18XEEM — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:22:51 +0000

“Four years ago, I had the chance to participate in the first ever Mr. Hmong Southeast Puavpheej Inc. 2004-2005 Pageant in North Carolina. I entered the pageant as a way to challenge myself and to have fun. We practiced for two months straight on walking, dancing, and speaking. It took a lot of time and effort, but it was well worth it in the end. ”

Subscribe today to read this entire story in the Feb 08 issue of 18XEEM.

Confessions of a Beauty Queen

18XEEM — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:22:36 +0000

“Within this predominantly American environment, I forged a path independently by not following what is normally considered traditional, but instead I carried my tradition into new spaces. Willing to take a risk of adapting and sharing my culture with a broader audience, I made it my passion and my priority to put my heritage above all, and to allow it to define who I was.”

“Once backstage I made a comment to my friend who was helping me get dressed, “Who knew looking pretty took so much work!” On stage I portray flawless beauty and elegance, but backstage, things are another story. Looking beautiful and flawless takes a lot of effort. Thankfully, I have my family and friends to help me every step of the way.” – Hlee Xiong

To read this entire article on print, please click here to subscribe.

The Art of Taxidermy

18XEEM — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:14:28 +0000

Art is not always what we traditionally think of it as. In fact, art comes in many different forms. It is broad in its medium and canvas. Art is as subjective as it is objective. It is the use of ”skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.” (Encyclopedia Britannica) For centuries, art has been a preservation of culture, of events, and of things. Art is an individual’s own passion of expression.

To read this entire article on print, please click here to subscribe.

The Roots of Hmong History

18XEEM — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:14:21 +0000

According to Chinese legends, the San Miao were the natives of China, and today are known as Hmong, or Miao, and in some cases, Mien, H’mong, and even Mong. Five thousand years ago, the great king that ruled China was Chi You, also known as “Txiv Yawg” to the Hmong (San Miao). Legends say that Chi You was a very powerful king who could not be defeated. Although his enemies tried to kill him many times (and thought they had killed him), he did not die. It was believed that he had two gems from a dragon that protected him.

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Pe Tsiab

18XEEM — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:14:08 +0000

The Hmong look forward to celebrating the New Year more than anything else. Every year, the Hmong New Year Festival is celebrated throughout the world, this is the only time they can rest and celebrate their heritage. In the old country or ‘lub tebchaws qub’ (a term Hmong refer to as in the mountains of Laos prior to the Vietnam War), the days consisted of hard labor and farming. Every morning, hours before the sunrise, the Hmong would pack their garden tools and walk miles into the fields to work until dusk. During the harvesting season, they made sure they would gather enough food to celebrate the coming of the New Year, or the 30th of the last month in the year. In Hmong, this is referred to as ‘Noj Tsiab Peb Caug’ – literally translated as Eating the New 30th. Families and friends would come together to celebrate and feast for several days.

To read this entire article on print, please click here to subscribe.