The Miao from SW China and the Hmong of Laos are related ethnic minority groups, their festivals show similarites, especially in the traditional dress worn by the females.
The Hmong ball tossing game (pov pob) takes place during the month long Hmong New Year celebration. Boys and girls form two parallel lines facing one another. It is OK for girls to toss the ball to other girls or to a boy, but boys must not toss the ball to other boys. If the ball is returned it is considered to a sign the girl/boy 'fancies' you. The ball must not be tossed to someone of the same clan. The cloth ball (now often a tennis ball) is tossed back and forth, until someone drops the ball. If a participant drops or misses the ball, a present is given to the other player in the pair. These presents are recovered by singing love songs (hais kwv txhiaj) to the other player.

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