Gung Haggis Fat Choy

Gung Haggis Fat Choy is a cultural event originating from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The name "Gung Haggis Fat Choy" is a combination wordplay on Scottish and Chinese words: "haggis" is a traditional Scottish food and "Gung Hay Fat Choy / Kung Hei Fat Choi" is a traditional Cantonese greeting (in Mandarin it is pronounced "Gong Xi Fa Cai") used during Chinese New Year.

The event originated to mark the timely coincidence of the Scottish cultural celebration of Robert Burns Day (January 25) with the Chinese New Year, but has come to represent a celebration of combining cultures in untraditional ways. In Vancouver, the event is characterized by music, poetry, and other performances around the city, culminating in a large banquet and party. [ [http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/2006GungHaggisFatChoydinnerJan22 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner in Vancouver, January 22, 2006] ]

This unique event has also inspired both a CBC television performance special titled Gung Haggis Fat Choy, [ [http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/CBCTVSpecialGungHaggisFatChoy/_archives/2006/7/13/2115158.html CBC TV Special Gung Haggis Fat Choy] ] and the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Canadian Games, organized by the Recreation Department at Simon Fraser University. [ [http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/sfu_news/archives/sfunews02100501.html Gung Haggis Fat Choy Canadian Games at Simon Fraser University] ]

Origins

Gung Haggis Fat Choy was created in 1993 when a Simon Fraser University student Todd Wong was asked to help out with the University's annual Robbie Burns celebrations. Wong, a 5th generation Canadian quickly learned about Scottish-Canadian culture with its traditions of men wearing kilts, carrying swords, playing bagpipes and eating exotic foods. In 1993, the Chinese Lunar New Year fell on January 27th only two days away from Robbie Burns Day, which is always January 25th in celebration of the Scottish Bard's birthday. "Gung Haggis Fat Choy!" said Wong, "I can celebrate two cultures at the same time." And thus was born the persona of Toddish McWong with his growing appreciation of Scottish Canadian history and culture.

In 1998, Wong hosted the first Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner as a private dinner party for 16 friends.

Recent years

In 2004, CBC television in BC, premiered a regional television special titled "Gung Haggis Fat Choy." It was nominated for two 2004 Leo Awards: Best Music, Comedy or Variety Program or Series (Moyra Rodger); and Best Direction in a Music, Comedy or Variety Program or Series (Moyra Rodger/Ken Stewart).

It featured music and dance performances by:
* The Paper Boys with Chinese flautist Jing Min Pan set in the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Classical Gardens,
* Silk Road Music Ensemble in Vancouver's Chinatown,
* George Sapounidis singing in Mandarin accompanied by the Vancouver Dance Academy
* Joe McDonald's Brave Waves with LaLa on vocalsIt also described the origins of Toddish McWong and Gung Haggis Fat Choy and included mini features on Robbie Burns, Chinese New Year and haggis. The special was produced by Moyra Rodger of Out to See Entertainment, and nominated for two Leo Awards, Best Direction and Best musical/variety program.

By 2005, the event had grown to a fundraising dinner serving 570 people, and co-hosted by Shelagh Rogers - the host of CBC Radio's "Sounds Like Canada" morning flagship show. The dinner event featured Asian Canadian poetry, singalongs of Scottish songs such as Scotland the Brave and Auld Lang Syne, plus new twists such as "When Asian Eyes are Smiling." Highland dancing was performed by champion dancers Vincent and Cameron Collins. Traditional haggis is served as well as haggis won ton, and haggis lettuce wrap.

cotland

Gung Haggis Fat Choy has spread to Scotland and throughout the Chinese community. Wong has been interviewed by Sing Tao Daily news, CBC radio and television, The Scotsman.com and BBC Radio Scotland. He has appeared on cooking shows such as City TV's "City Cooks" with host Simi Sara, and BBC Radio's "Scotland Licked."He plans to host Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner events across Canada.

Dragon boat team

Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team [ [http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2006/3/29/1847817.html Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team] ] is dedicated to fun and multiculturalism and hosts the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner event, and is coached by GHFC organizer Todd Wong. The dinner event started as a fundraiser for the dragon boat team, and has expanded to include other non-profit causes which organizer Todd Wong is involved in. The team competes at Dragon boat races and festivals in BC, Washington and Oregon. The GHFC dragon boat team is responsible for hosting the dragon boat parade float in Vancouver's annual St. Patrick's Day parade. This team travels to different dragon boat festivals in Vancouver BC, Seattle WA, Victoria BC, Kelowna BC, Vernon BC and Portland OR, spreading their multicultural message and intercultural fun. The team uniform includes kilts featuring the Fraser Hunting (sport) tartan, and a team shirt decorated with Chinese style "lucky" gold coins. Their mascots are numerous dragon puppets and stuffed animal dragons.

References

External links

* [http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/ GungHaggisFatChoy.com Official Web Site]
* [http://www.outtosee.ca/awards.php/ Moyra Rodger] — producer/director of Gung Haggis Fat Choy, 2004
* [http://www.paperboys.com/ Paperboys] — performer in Gung Haggis Fat Choy, 2004
* [http://www.chairmangeorge.com/ George Sapounidis] — performer in Gung Haggis Fat Choy, 2004
* [http://www.silkroadmusic.ca/ Silk Road Music] — featuring Qiu Xia He & Andre Thibault - performers in CBC TV special, at Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Dinners, and at Gung Haggis Fat Choy show at Vancouver First Night 2005.
* [http://www.outtosee.ca/clips/index.php Page containing excerpt of 2004 CBC TV show]
* [http://www.bravewaves.com/ Brave Waves] — Gung Haggis performers 2001 - 2007