Photo by Deb Gau Festivities at a Hmong New Year celebration at SMSU this weekend included performances by dance groups.

MARSHALL — Marking a new year means moving forward together. And that’s what the crowd lined up at the Southwest Minnesota State University campus on Saturday morning was ready to do.

Hmong residents from across southwest Minnesota gathered around as community elders said a blessing, and cut a ribbon tied across the entrance of the Recreation/Athletic Facility.

“The ceremony is to open the new year,” explained Khou Lor, part of the organizing committee for this weekend’s regional Hmong New Year event.

Once the ribbon was cut, Hmong residents wearing traditional clothes entered the R/A Facility to join the celebration. The event included plenty of food, music, and performances highlighting Hmong culture.

Walnut Grove resident Adyn Vue said that was part of what made the event special.

“It’s just celebrating Hmong culture, and the community can celebrate together,” Vue said.

Officials from both the university and the city of Marshall welcomed people to the celebrations on Saturday. Speakers included SMSU President Kumara Jayasuriya, Mayor Bob Byrnes and See Moua-Leske, Marshall’s first Hmong city council member.

“I’m so proud to be part of a community that comes together in times of need and in times of celebration,” Moua-Leske told the crowd.

In addition to welcoming Hmong community members, Byrnes also reflected on things he was grateful for in the Marshall area, including the people, education and job opportunities there.

“Most of all, I’m grateful that we have a community that is welcoming,” Byrnes said.

“We want to wish a safe, happy and prosperous new year for all of you,” Jayasuriya told the crowd.

The New Year celebrations included Hmong traditions like the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Lor said three cuts were made in the ribbon, each symbolizing different things. The first cut removed a group of balloons tied to the ribbon.

“It’s sending off all the bad things that happened in the old year,” she said.

The second cut recognized community members, and the third was to bring in more good things in the coming year.

Another custom that people took part in was a New Year ball tossing game. Traditionally, the ball toss was a way for young Hmong men and women to meet each other, residents said.

Hmong dance groups and individual community members also performed, sang songs and even shared poetry as part of the celebrations. Vue was among the performers who got up on the stage to sing. He said it was only the second time he had sung in front of an audience, but he wasn’t as nervous as he thought he would be.

“I know most of the people here,” he said.

SMSU student Ratsamee Lee also got up on stage, with a poetry reading.

“It’s a poem that talks about Hmong New Year,” Lee said.

Being able to bring Hmong community members together was one of the best parts of the New Year celebrations, attendees said.

“It’s nice to have a day to just show off the culture and get together,” said Ian Her.