Life style : Courtship

      Hmong people cannot be in love with people of the same lineage because they are regarded as relatives. During the New Year celebration, Hmong will don colorful clothes which they have prepared the whole year. The women will throw the kato (a ball made from cloth) to the man that she likes, and if the man does not like the woman, he will slip away. Kato is a ball made from black clothes and is as large as a tennis ball.. While playing the game, the match will talk to each other or play games and those who did not receive a kato must pay a fine in terms of items or decorations for the winner. This festive practice provides an opportunity for the match to meet each other at night. The courtship takes place around the woman’s house with the man outside the house and the woman in her bedroom. The man does not enter the house directly as it is against the Hmong’s traditions and disturb the woman’s parents as well as dishonoring the woman’s family. When the man is sure that the woman’s parents are asleep, the man will get to the wall of the woman’s bedroom and whisper to her or play the Jang (Hmong musical instrument made from brass)

      If the woman recognizes that the voice belongs to the man she loves, she will respond and talk to each other. She can also come out to chat with him in front of her house. However, if they make noise, the woman’s parents will be upset and will fine when a man argue. The woman’s parents usually will be understanding and give freedom to the couple.

The Hmongs still practice this tradition even until today
http://hmong.hilltribe.org