The stars are aligning, putting Chinese New Year on January 25th, the same day as the Scottish observance of Robbie Burns Day.
The Timmins Public Library is adopting a west coast idea, combining the two into “Gung Haggis Fat Choy”.
Reference librarian Karina Douglas-Takayesu says it’s an afternoon event on Saturday the 18t, featuring the local Tai Chi society, which is turning 50 years old, and the Timmins Police Pipes and Drum Band, turning 20.
“So, I thought this is kind of a good way to combine the two and sort of highlight a little bit, a bit like they do at the multicultural festival,” she explains, “because both groups of course are always trying to get new band members or new people interested in tai chi.”
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Don’t expect haggis. Do expect shortbread and fortune cookies during the mash-up celebration.
“The other thing of course is both cultures are very big in tea drinking,” says Douglas-Takayesu. “ So I’ve done a couple tartan teas, we’ve served Earl Grey tea and then the Chinese like the oolong tea or that.”
The Northern Ontario School of Scottish Dance will also perform.
“Gung Haggis Fat Choy” is a combination of the Chinese New Year greeting “Gung Hay Fat Choy” and the traditional Scottish dish, haggis.
More on its origins here.
