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PHOTOS: Sights and festivities of Merced County's Hmong New Year Celebration

Central Valley Journalism Collaborative | By Christian De Jesus Betancourt
Published December 21, 2023 at 3:57 PM PST
Mee Her looks at traditional garments available for sale during the Hmong New Year Celebration Sunday. Dozens of vendors were available during the event, offering traditional clothing and food for purchase.
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
/
CVJC
Mee Her looks at traditional garments available for sale during the Hmong New Year Celebration Sunday. Dozens of vendors were available during the event, offering traditional clothing and food for purchase.

The vibrant culture of the local Hmong community took centerstage during the past weekend at the Merced County Fairgrounds, as festivities for the 2023-24 Hmong New Year Celebration were held.

Sponsored by the Merced Lao Family Community, the event was held Friday through Sunday. Fresno will hold its Hmong new year's event from Dec. 28-31.

Christian De Jesus Betancourt, CVJC’s bilingual communities reporter attended the festivities Sunday. Here are a collection of his photographs:

A group of women wearing traditional Hmong garments inspects items for sale at one of the dozens of vendors who gathered at the Hmong New Year Celebration at the Merced County Fairgrounds last weekend.
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
/
CVJC
A group of women wearing traditional Hmong garments inspects items for sale at one of the dozens of vendors who gathered at the Hmong New Year Celebration at the Merced County Fairgrounds last weekend.
A group of Hmong cooks prepared traditional food items sold by dozens of vendors offering delicacies such as fried foods, grilled meats and traditional cane juice during the Hmong New Year Celebration Sunday.
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
/
CVJC
A group of Hmong cooks prepared traditional food items sold by dozens of vendors offering delicacies such as fried foods, grilled meats and traditional cane juice during the Hmong New Year Celebration Sunday.
Grillmaster Mengh Hur grills pork belly, a traditional Hmong food, during a celebration at the Merced County Fairgrounds Sunday. He said he grilled hundreds of pounds of meat for several hours to ensure those assisting in the event could try the delicacy.
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
Grillmaster Mengh Hur grills pork belly, a traditional Hmong food, during a celebration at the Merced County Fairgrounds Sunday. He said he grilled hundreds of pounds of meat for several hours to ensure those assisting in the event could try the delicacy.
A group of Hmong women pose for a photo to show off their intricate Paj Ntaub or flower cloth, a traditional garment.
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
/
CVJC
A group of Hmong women pose for a photo to show off their intricate Paj Ntaub or flower cloth, a traditional garment.
Youth in Hmong garments celebrated the Hmong New Year by playing volleyball at the Merced County Fairgrounds Sunday.
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
/
CVJC
Youth in Hmong garments celebrated the Hmong New Year by playing volleyball at the Merced County Fairgrounds Sunday.
A couple carry bags of items bought from vendors at the Hmong New Year Celebration at the Merced County Fairgrounds Sunday.
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
/
CVJC
A couple carry bags of items bought from vendors at the Hmong New Year Celebration at the Merced County Fairgrounds Sunday.
Two young women fully dressed in traditional clothing walk through the amenities at Sunday's Hmong New Year Celebration.
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
/
CVJC
Two young women fully dressed in traditional clothing walk through the amenities at Sunday's Hmong New Year Celebration.
A group of Hmong men wearing traditional garb enjoy the New Year Celebration Sunday.
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
/
CVJC
A group of Hmong men wearing traditional garb enjoy the New Year Celebration Sunday.
A photographer in traditional Hmong clothing takes a photo of a young woman who entered a dancing competition.
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
/
CVJC
A photographer in traditional Hmong clothing takes a photo of a young woman who entered a dancing competition.
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Local News Top StoriesHmong New Yearculturemerced county
Christian De Jesus Betancourt
Christian De Jesus Betancourt is the bilingual communities reporter for Central Valley Journalism Collaborative, a nonprofit newsroom based in Merced. 
See stories by Christian De Jesus Betancourt