Original write up from Lug Pov

Note that funerals have some differences depending on the situation below.
1. Deceased with NO daughter-in-law (nyaab).
Versus
2. Deceased with a daughter-in-law (nyaab), cows are then used to sawv thawv

The positions are the same with the same duties but are called different names depending on the situation mentioned above.
Example :
Situation 1, the position is called Kaav Xwm.
Situation 2, the same position is call Thawj Thawv.

Add this to the section where we talk about the cows
In situation 1 the funeral has thawj nyug, Kaav Xwm and Tshwj Kaab??? 1 cow, and if it's a female their is a 2nd cow called xyom nyuj for nam txiv dlaab

Funeral Positions and Names

Reference class session 11/06/2022

	Name when sawv thawv	name when NOT sawv thawv	position description
1	Qhuab Ke , also called Taw Kev/ Txiv Ncaws Kev		First ritual of the funeral, points the way to begin the funeral. Points the path for the deceased to reach their ancesters. Anyone can be asked to fullfill this position. However a son should not fullfill this position for his father and vice verse. Note that this position is independent of the situation mentioned above (sawv thawv), thus is called the same name. The deceased family needs to preper for the Taw Kev 1. One Chicken, ib tug qab tsoog kev (Rooster is preferred) 2. Required, you must give this person the lower mouth (Chin) of the pig use to tsaa neeg. (npua tsaa neeg) 3. Bamboo for him to create the txim kuam
2	Cuab Tsaav / txiv tuam pes yob swm	tug Laig Dlaab	This position must be filled by someone of the same generation, but younger then the deceased (ib paaj kwv). A younger brother or cousin Today we ask the 1st cousin first followed by the 2nd cousin etc... the person must be younger then the deceased. You also want to ask the oldest of the family first, but still younger then the deceased. The decease's oldest uncle's son should be asked first to fill this position, followed by the next oldest to the youngest uncle. In the olden days the actual younger brother was asked to fullfill this position. Laig Dlaab, because sometimes the deceased can be a very young child, you can basiclly use anyone to fullfill this positions in this particular situation. This positions resposibilty is to let the deceased person know when something is given to him/her. So that the deceased person can received the item.
3	Nam Txiv Dlaab	not used	Does not matter if the male or female pass. The oldest brother of the wife must fullfill this position and the thawj thawv. Yog muaj nam hlub nam yau and the husband pass then nam hlub tug nug tij ua Nam Txiv Dlaa and nam yau twg nug tij ua kaav Xwm, nam yau ua nteb, tes nam yau tug nug tij laug ua nam txiv dlaab, huas nam hlub tug tij laug ua tug kaav xwm nam hlub ua nteb, tes nam yau hlub nug tij laug ua nam txiv dlaab, huas nam yau tug tij laug ua tug kaav xwm
4	Yawm Xeev Yawm Txwj Laug	not used	Today it could be anyone who knows our customs. Can not be immediate family or relative. So for example it can be a npawg, txiv kwj, dlaab laug. Or someone with the same last name but can not be related. The purpose of this position is to mitigate any issues within the family like for example if one son wants to offer a cow and one does not. Speaks about if the deceased owns any money to anyone, resolve any social conflcts that may halt the fumeral etc... His main role is to discuss the issues at the final table. Although it is his responibiliy, if he is confident his coj tsaav nyuj can do it. It's okay for that person to do it too. Olden Days this person is head of the clan or someone in a leadership position. (ib tug nom tswv) Or someone close to the person who knows our customs.
5	Cuag, some call this ntxhais nqe	not used	In the olden days, we call the youngest married daughter (ntxhais ntxawm) when the father passes and the oldest (ntxhais hlub) when the mother passes However today we do the reversed. Not sure when this change happended. If there is only one daughter then it will always be this person White Hmong call this position Cuag Ntxhais
6	Xov Txiv Dlaab	not used	Olden daysm you would call the father and he would have his son's to preform this position. Even though its the sons you are after to fullfill this positon. Today we just call the son directly. Example of people selection. If your father pass and you as a married son offer a cow you will asked your dlaab laug to help with the other half. If your a sister or daughter of the deceased and wish to kill a cow, the family must ask one of your cousins from your deceased side to ua xov txiv dlaab The oldest cousin is normally the one asked to fill this position first
7	Txiv Npawg	not used	If you are an unmarried son and want to offer a cow your npawg will be asked to ua tug txiv npawg If your father passed, you will ask one of your father's sisters son to fullfill this position If your mother passed, you will ask one of your mother's brothers son to fullfull this position Today we use any of the npawg as long as we can find one
7	Thawj Thawv	Kaav Xwm	The main person to manage funeral The person who does this position is also the same person you ask to do the position Nam txiv dlaab. The person can decide to do both positions or do the nam txiv dlaab and ask someone else to do this position for him. However it is that person's responsibilty to find someone to replace him in this position. The 2nd person who partners with this person can be anyone from the deceases side of the family. As longs as the know the culture and process. If their are two wifes involved and the huband passes. The oldest wife's brother is asked to by the Nam txiv Dlaab and the Kaav Xwm. If their are two wifes involved and the oldest one passes. The oldest wife's brother is asked to by the Nam txiv Dlaab and the 2nd wife's brother is ask to be the Kaav Xwm. If the 2nd wife is the one who passed. The wife's brother is asked to by the Nam txiv Dlaab and the 2st wife's brother is ask to be the Kaav Xwm. If the 1st wife passed and the husband remarries. The current wife's brother is asked to by the Nam txiv Dlaab and the 1st wife's brother is ask to be the Kaav Xwm.
8	Lwm Thawv More details	Tshwj Kaab	tug ua zaub, tsuav nqaj ( Head Chef ), Make sure all meals are prepared. Olden Day's, the oldest living sister and her husband of the deceased, is asked to fills this position first. Today, Whether male of female pass, we call the 1st female cousin followed by the 2nd female cousin. If there are none, the daughters are then selected. You will also ask someone from the deceases side of the family to partner with this person. Normally a male cousin and his wife as selected first
9	Xaab Thawv	Txiv Txhag	tug ua lus hleb (coffin) Today since the coffe is bought this person has no real duty or responsiblity. However sometimes the thawj thawv can ask this position to help the lwm thawv. This person shares the third cow so we still have to find someone to fullfill this position. Olden Day's, the 2nd oldest sister and her husband of the deceased, fills this position. Today, Wether male of female pass, we call the 1st female cousin followed by the 2nd female cousin. If there are none, the daughters are then selected. You will also ask someone from the deceases side of the family to partner with this person. Normally a male cousin and his wife reference 04/09/2023 "03. Xaab Thawv, Txiv Txag" for more details When it comes to the cows the oldest son shares with this person
10	Xwm Thawv	Nam Ua Mov	tug ua mov Olden Day's, the 3rd oldest sister and her husband of the deceased, fills this position. Today, Wether male of female pass, we call the 1st female cousin followed by the 2nd female cousin. If there are none, the daughters are then selected. You will also ask someone from the deceases side of the family to partner with this person. Normally a male cousin and his wife
These other thawv positions are determined by how many married sons are left and if they want to offer a cow. Remember a xov txiv dlaab is needed.
11	Vwg Thawv	not used	These positions depend on how many son's are left and the amount of cows the son's offer The positions are based on the birth rank of each son, so the youngest son will be the lowest thawv.
12	Luj Thawv	not used
13	Txhw Thawv	not used
14	Puaj Thawv	not used
15	Caw Thawv	not used
17	Khij Thawv	not used
16	Coj Xai	not used
17	Txiv Qeej		Traditionally we find 3 if the deceased is marriage with children and only 2 if the deceased is not. Now we look for 4 in total. The first person must be someone from your side of the family. The 2nd person is from the wife's side of the family. If one can not be found at least find someone with the same last name as the wife's maiden name.
18	Tub Teev (Sau) Ntawv		the people who write and records donation money.
19	Ntxuag Neeg Ntau Khaus		two people who will ua Neeg hab ua khaus. During the funeral the Cuab Tsaav will find two people to fill these positions
Within our family we have these other positions
	Nyaab tuav teeb (candle lady)		This position is used on the final day before the body leaves the funeral home. This person must be a daughter in law of the deceased. She holds the candle when the body exits the funeral home and is the 2nd to last person following the coffin. The Cuab Tsaav is the last person. She puts the candle down right outside the door frame of the exit door
Within our family we have these other positions
	Thawj Txiv Tsev		Male representing the family of the deceased. Aid the Kaav Xwm and min greeting guest. Other situations that may arise. Needed materials and other items
	Thawj Nam Tsev		Female representing the family of the deceased. Aid the Nam ua Mov and greeting guest. Other situations that may arise. Organize meals and food preperation if needed.
	Thawj Tub Tsev		Younger male representing the family of the deceased. To help organize the people needed to butcher the cows and other animals as well as pickup and delivery needed items for the funeral
	Tug Tuav Nyaj		Person holding the money for the family of the deceased. To help hand out money when it is needed and keep track of purchased items
Positions no longer used since we migrated to the US, noted here for historical context
	Nam Dlaj Zeb Tuav Cug		Traditionally this position is a larger stronge female Duty is to Hov Paug Cug and zum zeb
	Kaav Tsum also called Yawj Kaab Cawv Txum		Traditionally this position must be a person of older stature, Checks and watches the tables when food is served so animals don't get to it or people bump and spill

 

Other Positions

ntaus khau ntxuag neeg

Tug coj tshaav ntuj also called tug kis

If you have a position or is a son-in-law, this is the person whom you ask to bring you into the funeral home on the day the funeral ua qhua
For the people in positions, this person you ask must also sit at the final table (rooj xwm) and complete some task. If you ask the person to coj tshaav ntuj for you the person will automatically assume they will be responsible to sit at the table. However you can ask some to coj tshaav ntuj and another person to sit at the table. Or you can sit at the table yourself.

Items to coj tshaav ntuj
Make sure each person you do this for have each of the following items
Give nyaj ntxhais vauv $40 ?????
and If you have not given nyaj tsaav ntuj, then give that as well
1 noob ncoob
1 bundle of incense, ib pob xyaab or just a few is fine too
ib tsuag ntawv
2 bottled drinks, can be ginger ale, ginsing, beer, etc., No soda
Ib lub cawv mo, ib lu cawv txheej ntawg 1 small pack rice with a small peice of meat, wrapped together
The cawv mo you leave at the table for when they do "ua tsaug mo". The cawv txheej ntawg you take with you.

You take the cawv txheej ntawg to the cuab tsaav to ntawg, pour some for him to drink first and ask him to ntawg the person's cawv. For example nxthais vauv. ask him to ntawg ntxhais vauv lug cawv txheej.

Then you take the beer and pour it for the tsev xyom cuab. The very last one you need to pour to one of the txiv qeej. Play
and you say the following Play

People

Dlaab laug also will be Xov Txiv Dlaab ua thawj

Cuag Ntxhais
In the old days when the father passes the youngest daughter is call, when the mother passes they call the older daughter
Today this is reversed

Old Stuff I wrote________________________

Taw Kev / Qhuab Kev

Nam Txiv Dlaab partner with Kaav Xwm - main person to manage funeral
Txij Laug
Cuag Ntxhais - oldest son in law
Noj nruv Noj nraag ??? which part is nruv and Nraag
Xov Txiv Dlaab
There are as many as there are married Son's to receive the half the meat, to match son.
If a unmarried son wants to also contribute a cow, this is called sawv thawv, then they must call a npaug (cousin from aunt side of family ) to match, receive the other side of the meat.
Thawv
Txiv Qeej
coj xai

Events

Cow distribution
Cob tsaj ?????

????? Qeej tshais, Qeej Su, Qeej Mo

Everyday

Qeej tshais
Qeej su
Qeej mo

Friday

Taw Kev
Qeej Tu Sav
Qeej nce neeg

When the body is first put into the coffin (lub hleb) for viewing for the rest of the days
Qeej Nce Neeg and Zaaj Nce Neeg are performed

Saturday

Qeej Cob Rag
Presentation and speeches

Sunday

Qhua Txwg mean the day they Ua Qhua
Nam Queej
Rooj su
nub qhua txws_i
ua qhua taag te ua tsaug mo - table where all the kis sit, with all the drinks from the qhuav
Nce Xub Qeeg
hum xwm - drink to sit on the final table
Last table is the rooj xwm (short i) ( nqug nyob rooj )
Those needed to sit
txiv tub pes yo swm
Txiv Laug - ask if there is anything left this person owns or issue before burial
Xov Txiv Dlaab
All the Thawv
All the txiv qeej
Coj Xai

 

Tso plig

Last Table is called - rooj xwm (short i)

hauv qhov