1. Hmong uncles gathered to build a wooden coffin to bury a baby that passed away.
2. Relatives help make the casket. They do not use nails to nail it shut. They cut and chisel the wood to fit precisely shut. The reason why we do not use nails or metal is because we believe if metal does not break down and deteriorate then the deceased will come back to cause pain and suffering for the remaining lineage. Even clothing for the deceased has to be made of hemp or cotton. Fancy and decorative clothing (with the flower patterns) aren’t even allowed because they do not deteriorate easily. This casket seems to have been made for a child.
3. Although everyone attended the ceremony, only Hmong men and boys went to the burial traditionally. The women and girls stayed home.
4. “When a person is buried, usually the young, strong members of the family would carry the body from the village to the burial site which was as far as one-half days walk away. The burial site was very important – we wanted to be sure that it was a place that would give the family honor, so we were willing to go a long way for the right spot.” - Kha Xiong, St. Paul
Cemetery
“Because so many people who died are there, people are afraid to go there now, even during the day. At night, once in a while you will see ghosts.” - Vang Fong Xiong, St. Paul