Next: about 25 to 28 Nov 2026
Hmong New Year Ball Toss (Pov Pob)
Young Hmong men and women toss a cloth ball back and forth in two lines at the harvest new year, a gentle form of courtship.
When is Hmong New Year Ball Toss (Pov Pob) in 2026?
Hmong New Year Ball Toss (Pov Pob) 2026 runs from 25 to 28 November 2026. The date follows the moon or a local calendar, so it can move by a day. Other years: 2027, 25 to 28 November 2027; 2028, 25 to 28 November 2028.
About Hmong New Year Ball Toss (Pov Pob)
The Hmong new year follows the harvest and runs for days in the late autumn, with dates set village by village. In pov pob, unmarried boys and girls stand in two lines and toss a soft cloth ball to each other, talking and singing as they do. Catching and missing becomes a way to talk and to show interest. Girls wear embroidered clothes and silver necklaces, and families watch closely. The custom travels with the Hmong diaspora, and festivals in California, Minnesota and Wisconsin keep it alive.
Hmong New Year Ball Toss (Pov Pob) dates: 2026, 2027, 2028
| Year | Hmong New Year Ball Toss (Pov Pob) date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 25 to 28 November 2026 |
| 2027 | 25 to 28 November 2027 |
| 2028 | 25 to 28 November 2028 |
This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.
What is served
- sticky rice
- pork
- papaya salad
Also part of it, and being written: Hmong New Year (The harvest festival that holds the game.), Hmong people (The people who keep it.), Pov pob (The ball toss courtship game.).
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background: "Hmong New Year" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.