Chinese-Scottish fusion creates a haggis New Year fete in Canada

By The Associated Press

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More than 500 people have bought tickets for this weekend's celebration. The birthday of the 18th-century Scottish bard is tomorrow, at the dawn of the Chinese New Year.

Chicken feet, haggis won ton, anything goes at the 12-course fusion feast.

"This is what Canadian society is all about, introducing each other to our cultures and celebrating more holidays," said organizer Todd Wong.

He was dubbed "Toddish McWong" when he caved in to pleas from friends in a Burns club to join their annual reading. The fifth-generation Chinese Canadian was given a book of Gaelic-spiked poems to recite and a crash course on Scots' traditions: men wearing skirts, carrying swords and eating unusual foods.

"People, especially Scottish Canadians, thought it was really cool to see a Chinese guy wearing a kilt," he said.

Near-strangers gave him books on Scottish lore. He went to Highland Games, where many competitors had Chinese spouses.

Six years ago, when he was organizing a Chinese New Year dinner for friends, he realized Burns Day came just a few days later.

Wong decided to combine them. A piper played and the 12-course Chinese feast included a haggis: sheep's stomach stuffed with the animal's heart, liver and lungs, plus suet, oatmeal and onions.

The guests celebrated both cultures with songs and poems and agreed a holiday had been born.

"Burns writes about a love for Scotland. He says, 'If you love Scotland give her a haggis!' " Wong explained.

"I love Canada and I give Canada 'Gung Haggis Fat Choy,' " a play on the phrase "Gung hay fat choy," Chinese for "Happy new year."

The number of celebrants has grown every year since. In multicultural Canada, Wong said, people love to adopt other's traditions and double dip on holidays.

Celebrants enjoy highland dancers, Mandarin singers, Chinese literature and the work of the poet Burns in a fast-paced variety show between courses.

A member of the audience is chosen at random to read Burns' "Address to a Haggis" and ranked on pronunciation. It's no mean feat. The poem begins:

"Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!"

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company