Burmese immigrants celebrate Karen New Year

These Burmese immigrants in N. Carolina celebrated their New Year Day last week. It is the beginning of 2748 for them. DP

By Matt Tessnear, Sun Journal

With cultural dances between bamboo poles, observation of the national flag and conversations about unity, several hundred people celebrated the Karen New Year on Saturday at First Baptist Church on Middle Street.

Many of the people, mostly refugees from the Karen state in Myanmar (previously Burma), wore colorful headbands, robes and dresses for the celebration. All of them bowed their heads in unison to show respect of the red, blue and white Karen flag. Saturday marked the first day of the Karen New Year, said Per Htoo, one of the speakers at the celebration.

In the 1930s, Karen officials decided that the origin of the culture began in 739 B.C., when the people finished a period of migration to the land now known as Myanmar. The Karen people celebrated their first national New Year Day on Dec. 21, 1938. Saturday's celebration was the beginning of the Karen year 2748.

Because of government oppression over the last 50 years, Karen people left Burma and lived in Thailand refugee camps for as many as 20 years. Interfaith Refugee Ministries, the New Bern branch of a national voluntary agency that works with the U.S. government, has helped many of the Burmese people move to New Bern. The Karen people first celebrated their New Year in New Bern three years ago at the Farmer's Market. Last year, the celebration was at Christ Episcopal Church, said Kyaw Zin, who has lived in New Bern since 2000.

"Dancing maintains our culture," Zin said. "All of this maintains our culture. We try to make it wider each year. Only 10 people came the first time. As more Karen come, our culture is more organized here."
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.