UAE | General
Scots mark society's 40th year
Abu Dhabi group arranges games such as haggis hurling in desert.
- By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
- Published: 22:46 April 4, 2009
- Image Credit: Bin Sal Abdul Kader/Gulf News
- Herriot (left) with fellow members at a cake-cutting ceremony as part of the society's 40th anniversary at a desert camp in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi: When Martin Forsyth, a nine-year-old Scottish boy was taking part in a fun game, the taste of a traditional Scottish dish appeared on his tongue. He was taking part in 'haggis hurling' - the throwing of a Scottish round sausage.
"I cannot have haggis here but it was nice to 'feel' its taste in Abu Dhabi," said Martin who won first prize in the haggis hurling competition during the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Scottish St Andrew's Society in Abu Dhabi.
The society organised the celebrations at a desert camp on Friday evening with fun games, competitions, Scottish and Arabian traditional dance and music.
"We take it [haggis hurling] as fun because we cannot prepare this national dish here," said Sheena Thomson, a member of the society.
Haggis is a Scottish dish made from chopped lamb's heart, lungs, and liver mixed with suet, oats, onions, and seasoning, which is packed into a round sausage skin and usually boiled. It is traditionally cooked in a sheep's stomach, but artificial casings are now frequently used, she explained.
"To prepare haggis, you have to make a special arrangement with a Scottish butcher - which is impossible here", Thomson said.
But the celebrations had whatever traditional things could be arranged, according to Andrew Herriot, the chieftain of the society who was wearing a traditional kilt (a skirt-like garment and a sporran (a traditional small bag).
"This woollen garment has been here for hundreds of years," said Thomson.
Women too wear them but they are ceremonial garments, she added.
"But Scottish tradition does not bar other people joining us - we have Americans, South Africans, Germans and many others in our group," said Herriot.
A British American couple said they had an introduction to the society while they were in Bahrain and they were made a part of Scottish society after moving to Abu Dhabi.
"When we visited Scotland as tourists, we were attracted to Scottish culture, food and people", said Paul and Kathi Cleaver.
"Now we have become Scots at heart", they said.
"I like their tendency to laugh at themselves", said Cathryn Herriot, a South African, wife of the chieftain of the society.
When Jennie Hill, a British woman arrived in Abu Dhabi 18 years ago, she found the society just as a Western link but soon she became part of it.
"Initially it was a quest to find people with the same language, later, although I am not a Scot, I too absorbed that culture," she said.
Two Arabic guests at the function were delighted to get appreciation from society members for their musical performance.
"We enjoyed their appreciation", Kefah Al Qudah and Nabhan Al Sharo said.
Herriot recollected the success story of the society, established since 1969, in his speech during the cake-cutting ceremony.
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