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One of the best parts of being Scottish, being of Scottish descent or just being interested in all things Scottish, is being able to attend the numerous Festivals, Gatherings and Games that are held throughout the world.
Here is a snapshot of Scottish events right across the globe. Thank you to all those who sent us in their events. Please continue to use the Contact Us button to send us your news.
In this issue, we look at France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Hawaii, Norway, USA, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada Netherlands and Belgium and England.
Some highlights from France
Lyon Scottish Country Dancing Group
Lyon Scottish Country Dancing group was created in 1986. Its 19 members had never danced Scottish Country Dancing regularly before. During day-schools organised by la Chanterelle and la Ronde Folklorique, they discovered country dancing and decided to meet once a month to dance Scottish Country Dancing. The group decided to be integrated in la Chanterelle in 1987 and to affiliate to the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society (RSCDS) in 1991. Over the years, the number of evening workshops increased, along with the number of new members, and we are now more than thirty. In June 2005, we became a totally independent association, under the name Scottish Chanterelle.
Not only do we hold regular classes on Fridays, but we also organise day-schools, weekends and balls that enable us and many dancers from other parts of France or Europe to discover the talents of our guest teachers and musicians: whether they are French or British, they come to share their knowledge of and passion for Scottish Country Dancing.
www.scottishchanterelle.insitoo.com
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society in Paris
Come and dance with us! Learn the steps and the formations to the sound of traditional music both old and new, in a fun and international environment! Scottish Country Dancing is danced in groups (called sets) of four, six or eight. Sets of six or eight dancers are the most common. Some dances are easy, while others take a lot longer to learn. Elegance, strength, teamwork and most of all fun are all combined to make dancing a fantastic experience! Opening windows not only to Scottish culture, but to others in the world, you can dance in Paris, but you can also take your dancing shoes to Scotland (of course), but also to New York, Tokyo, or Hawaii . . . on the five continents and find dancers ready to welcome you all over the world.
Come and join us, we're waiting for you!
Contact:
rscdsparis.free.fr
and
secretary@rscdsparis.org
Association France-Ecosse Programme des Activites 2čme Semestre 2006
Apéritif-Rencontre sur les berges du Lez-19hr
19th Octobre 2006
Participation des membres et leurs amis. Suivi d'un repas pris en commun.
Lieu : Brasserie, L'Arlequin, Montpellier
Soirée des Vins du Languedoc
9th Novembre 2006
Conférence et Dégustation ŕ 19hr.30. Suivi par un Buffet
Lieu : Brasserie des Arts, Montpellier
Saint Andrew's Night
2nd Decembre 2006
Gala-Dîner / Dansant ŕ 19hr30 avec Spectacle Ecossais + Tombola
Lieu : Espace Rencontres, Castelnau lez, presque Montpellier.
Association Loi 1901-Téléphone et Fax : 33.(0)4.67.79.01.58.
www.france-ecosse.com
Some Highlights from Germany
Munich Scottish Association
They have traditional events running throughout the year.
Please go to their website to keep up with their up and coming events.
www.munichscottish.de
Scottish Dancing in Hamburg
This popular society have regular events. They usually meet every Thursday from 19:30–22:00 hours in the smaller gym of Albert Schweitzer Schule, entrance Stübeheide (7 min. walk from S1 Kornweg / parallel Wellingsbüttler Landstraße-parking places provided).
Please go to
www.hamburg.de
for a map.
Further information from Valerie Puschmann
Tel & Fax: +49 (0)40-600 77 10
Contact:
vep-tellurian@t-online.de
www.scdhamburg.de
The Munich Caledonians
Who or what are we? It's very simple. If you like Scottish music and dancing, having a blether or just watching people enjoying themselves, then that is who and what we are. We are a group of resident Scots promoting Scottish cultural and social evenings in and around Munich. We have ceilidhs, hill walks, sports days and our two gala evenings: the St. Andrew's Dinner Dance and of course the Burns Supper.
Why not come along and find out for yourselves-I'm sure you won't regret it!
Information supplied by Annie Tabacchi.
www.the-munich-caledonians.org
Scottish Dancing in Berlin
Come dance with us! Every Friday from 7:30 to 10 p.m. during school times in the gym of the Biesalski-Schule/Europa-Schule (formerly TAR school) on Hüttenweg 40, in Berlin-Zehlendorf. Public transportation: U-Bhf. Oskar-Helene-Heim, Bus X10, M11, 110, 115 and 285.
We'd be glad to perform for you!
Chris and Angelika McLarren
Tel.: 7970 6523
E-Mail:
CMclarren@aol.com
Some Highlights from Italy
Florence Scottish Association
The Florence Scottish Association of Florence meets once a month on Saturdays from 20:30 to 23:00 at the DLF in via Paisiello 131, Florence. Occasional extra dates, such as the St. Andrew's Ball and Robert Burns Night, are also planned. The teacher and dance director is Donald Francis.
The secretary of the Florence Scottish Association is Mr Michele Chiarini and he can be contacted at: florencescots@inwind.it spazioinwind.libero.it/fsa.
Societá di Danza, Societá di Danza, Bologna, Modena, Pisa, Livorno, Ferrara, Lecce, Milano, Trento, Bergamo, Roma
The Association Societá di Danza, directed by Fabio Mollica, has regular courses of Scottish Country Dances and XIX Century dances in several cities, with various teachers, and is affiliated to the RSCDS. Several balls and events are organised during the year. The Societá di Danza organises an Easter School and a Summer School, more information can be found at
www.societadidanza.it/stage.html
Contact: Societá di Danza, Via Cavallerini 6, 41100 Monde, Italy
E-mail:
info@societadidanza.it
www.societadidanza.it
Some Highlights from Poland
ISTA Scottish Dancing Club
Scottish dancing arrived in Poland 10 years ago at the time when folk culture from various regions of the world gained popularity. Scottish Country Dancing and Highland Scottish dancing demonstrations always attract a great number of viewers, some of them joined Scottish dancing classes. ISTA School Dance in co-operation with teachers being RSCDS members offers Scottish dancing classes, weekend workshops and organises ceilidhs. Dancers from Poland as well as foreign visitors are always most welcome to join our classes and dance with us elegant strathspeys, dynamic reels and jigs and, the fittest can enjoy highland dancing.
Would you like to know more about Scottish dancing in Poland? Would you like to join our classes, workshops or celidh?
Contact us at:
Marta Guzy ISTA Dancing School
tel. (48) 501 039 629, fax: (48) 12 661 22 34
web site:
www.ista.art.pl
(also in English)
Our mission is to popularise Scottish dancing in Poland, we have articles on Scottish dancing and on its history (in Polish only for the time being). These articles, we believe, can be of great help to Poles looking for information about Scottish Dancing.
Some Highlights from Hawaii
Saint Andrew Society of Hawaii
November 27
Kirkin 'o' the Tartans Event & Reception
December 3
Hale Koa-Charter Night-Formal Investiture
Some Highlights from Norway
The Caledonian Society of Norway
The Caledonian Society of Norway was born out of friendship. The bonds across the North Sea, reinforced by common purpose during World War II, were strong as British soldiers came to Norway to help peaceful post-war reconstruction. One of these soldiers was Scottish Sergeant-Major James Watson Blair.
Britons and Norwegians easily struck up new friendships in the post-war days. At that time it was customary, even for otherwise quiet Norwegians, to exchange a few friendly words when they met a British soldier. James Watson Blair had such a chance meeting on his very first evening in Oslo. As he walked up the hill to the Royal Palace, he stopped and talked to a Norwegian who was on his way down towards Karl Johans gate. ( The main street in Oslo .) His name was Wilhelm Sommerfeldt Jacobsen. The two men would soon meet again and they became friends. James Watson Blair felt that his posting in Norway would last some time. "Why not form a Scottish-Norwegian society?" he suggested one day. Willy Sommerfeldt Jacobsen agreed and James W. Blair invited a group of people to turn idea into action. The date: Wednesday, 11th September, 1946. The place: Room 862, James Watson Blair's room at Hotel Continental in Oslo. That day has gone down in history as the date the Society was born."
Our celebration will appropriately take place at the Hotel Continental.
Our Constitution states that "The Object of the Society is to promote the cultural relationship between Norway and Scotland, to be achieved by appropriate lectures, gatherings, etc."
We meet on the last Thursday in the month from September to November with our December meeting earlier in the month due to Christmas. The Burns Supper, one of the highlights of our programme, is celebrated as close to the proper date as is practical and the February and March meetings are according to the Thursday schedule. Our Annual General Meeting is held in April. A Ladies' meeting is normally held in June. The last one included a visit to the Norwegian Parliament building, where we were shown around by a profiled politician.
The format of our normal meetings is based on having a Speaker deliver a talk, with a Scottish flavour whenever possible, after we which we have dinner together.
The Society is still all male and whilst there are a number of retired servicemen, the military slant is considerably reduced, in the membership of around 120. James Watson Blair was the last surviving founding member to pass away.
We do try to make our presence felt locally whenever possible and we have a particularly interesting contact with the town of Otta, in northern Gudbrandsdalen, where the Battle of Kringen took place in 1612. A troop of mercenary Scots met an untimely end at the hands of a local militia here and the Sinclair Clan is strongly involved in this commemoration since the Scots were lead by a Sinclair.
Lord Malcolm, The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Caithness PC, chief of the Clan, is our Patron and he has visited us on several occasions, the last being our 60th Anniversary Burns Supper this year.
For more details, please go to www.cally.org
Some Highlights from USA
St Andrew's Society of New York
Congratulations to the St Andrew's Society of New York who will be celebrating their 250th anniversary in November 2006. Here are a couple of the events happening this year. Please look out for a forthcoming edition of Global Friends of Scotland ( www.friendsofscotland.gov.uk ) for a special feature to celebrate the 250th anniversary.
Old Scotch Church
On October 27th we will join the 2nd Presbyterian Church at 96th Street and Central Park West to celebrate their 250th Anniversary. Also called the "Old Scotch Church" it was founded by several of our members.
250th Annual Banquet
On November 17th we will hold our 250th Annual Banquet at the elegant Cipriani's on 42nd street. This beautiful room is directly across 42nd street from Grand Central terminal. This event promises to be the highlight of the year in Scottish America.
We can only accommodate 500 people and tables are being reserved with a $500 deposit. Please contact the office for reservations.
Atlantic Studies Research Seminar
'A Transatlantic Perspective on the Disappearing Cultural Legacy of New Orleans', Helen Taylor (University of Exeter).
Wednesday 18 October at 5.15pm, Room 112, Modern Languages Building, University of Glasgow, 16 University Gardens, G12 8QL.
Helen Taylor is author of Gender, Race, and Region in the Writings of Grace King, Ruth McEnery Stuart, and Kate Chopin (1989), Scarlett's Women: Gone With the Wind and its Female Fans (1989, translated into Finnish and Japanese), and Circling Dixie: Contemporary Southern Culture through a Transatlantic Lens (2001).
Also on 18 October, at 2 pm, Professor Taylor will be holding an open seminar in which postgraduate students working in Scotland on American Studies or American Literature will have the opportunity to discuss their work with her. Students interested in attending this event should contact Professor Bill Marshall at Glasgow University ( b.marshall@french.arts.gla.ac.uk ) for further details.
Williamsburg Scottish Festival, Williamsburg-Virginia
Date: September 30, 2006
Contact:
www.wsfonline.org
Time: Saturday: 9am-5pm
Where: Jamestown Beach Campsites
Directions: "Take exit 234A off Interstate 64,
Lightfoot/Route 199 exit. Turn right onto Route 199.
Proceed to the second traffic light at Jamestown Road (Route 31). Turn right.
Follow Jamestown Road to the Jamestown Beach Campgrounds.
Directional signs to the Festival will be posted.
Anne Arundel Scottish Highland Games-Maryland
October 14, 2006
Contact: (410) 849-2949
jdodds@annap.infi.net
Contact: The Anne Arundel Scottish Festival, Inc
P.O. Box 539
Crownsville, MD 21032
Time: Saturday: 9am-5pm
Where: The Anne Arundel Fairgrounds
Rt. 178, Crownsville, Md.
Directions:
From Baltimore: Take I-97 South to the Crownsville Exit [Rt. 178]. Follow Rt. 178 E to the Fairgrounds on the right.
From Washington: Take Rt. 50 East to the Parole / Crownsville Exit [Rt. 450 / 178]. Bear right at Annapolis Mall and follow Rt. 178 to Fairgrounds on left.
Stone Mountain Highland Games & Scottish Festival-Georgia
Date: October 21-22, 2006 Contact: Stone Mountain Highland
Time: Saturday: 8am-5pm and Sunday: 8:30am-5pm
Where: Stone Mountain Park
6899 Memorial Drive Stone Mountain, Georgia.
Loch Lomond Highland Games
October 7, 2006 (1st Sat in October)
Highlands Park, Ben Lomond, CA, (near San Jose)
Founded in 1995. This games is the host to the ASAA Master Championship.
Organisers Loch Lomond Celtic Society
Seaside Highland Games
October 13-15, 2006
Seaside Park, Ventura, CA
Founded 2003.
Organisers Seaside Highland Games, a California Non-profit Public Benefit Corporation.
Orange County Celtic Festival
November 18, 2006
Irvine, CA
Highland Athletics, Pipe & Drum competition, Highland Dancing competition, vendors, sheep herding, 4 stages of music Scottish Clans, genealogy workshops, children's activities.
Loch Hartwell Highland Games & Scottish Festival
October 7-8, 2006
Our site is in the rolling hills of NE Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Sponsors & Patrons reception is Friday evening, September 30th, and our Ceilidh is Saturday evening, October 1st. We have piping & drumming, heavy Scottish athletics, sheep dog herding demos, kid's events area, Scottish entertainment area with seating and a unique setting.
Contact:
www.lochhartwell.org
P.O. Box 1249, Hartwell, GA 30643, or telephone Mike Gordon 706-376-6761.
Celtic Nations Heritage Festival of Louisiana
October 27-29, 2006
Lake Pontchartain Basin Marit, Madisonville, LA
Founded in 1991. Special events include a Kids Pavil, Participatory Arts/Crafts, and the North-South Challenge Cup.
Contact: www.celticnationsworld.com/festival.htm
Highland Games of Louisiana
November 17-19, 2006
Museum Grounds, Jackson, (near Baton Rouge), LA.
Rio Rancho Highland Games & Scottish/Irish Festival
October 14-15, 2006
Rio Rancho Sports Complex, Rio Rancho, NM (near Albuquerque)
Founded in 2000. There will be British cars on display.
www.rioranchohighlandgames.com
Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games
November 5, 2006
Rillito Park Raceway, Tucson, AZ.
The 19th Annual Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games is a Festival for all Celts, Irish, Scottish, Welsh & Cornish. Friday evening Dinner, Clan "Torchlight Ceremony of Honor" and Ceilidh.
St Andrews Society of Connecticut Scottish Festival
October 7, 2006
Agricultural Society Fairgrounds, Goshen, CT.
Founded in 1984.
St. Andrew's Society of Connecticut
Scotland Highland Festival
October 8, 2006, 9am-4.30pm
Edward Waldo Historic Homestead.
96 Waldo Road, Scotland, CT (near Willimanic).
Founded in 1988.
Celtic Festival and Craft Faire
October 14-15, 2006
Tri-State Fairgrounds, 10th and Grand Streets, Amarillo, Texas.
Founded in 1998.
Austin Celtic Festival
November 4-5, 2006
Fiesta Gardens, 2102 Bergman Drive, Austin, Texas.
The Largest Gathering of Celtic Artists in Central Texas.
4 Stages, 20 musical acts, 5 dance troupes, over 30 Celtic Craft Vendors, Medieval Battle displays, Civil War Camps, Highland Games, Children's Highland Games, Theatrical Reading of Dylan Thomas' Under Milkwood.
Salado Gathering of the Scottish Clans
November 10-12, 2006
Central Texas Area Museum, Salado, TX, (near Waco).
Garden in The Heights, Annual Celtic Christmas
December 8, 2006
Garden in the Heights, 3926 Feagan, Houston, Texas 77007.
Some highlights from Australia
Wollongong Highland Games & Pipe Band Competition
October 14, 2006
Dapto Showground, Princes Highway, Dapto.
Pipe Band competition, massed bands, Highland & Irish Dancing, Country dancing, Children's events, novelty events. Stalls. Ceilidh at Dapto Leagues Club in evening. (7.30pm-12.00).
Contact: Charlie Taylor: 02 4262 2444, Tilly McIlvain: 02 4262 2588, James Bennis: 02 4284 3429.
Glenbarr Highland Gathering
October 22, 2006
Strathalbyn, nr Adelaide, South Australia.
Contact: 08 8536 3948.
Combined Scottish Societies Highland Gathering
October 29, 2006
Castle Hill Showground, near Sydney, NSW, Australia.
NSW State Pipe Band Championships (26 pipe bands in 2003.) NSW State Highland Dancing Championships. Traditional Highland Feats of Strength Trans-Tasman Challenge, traditional and fun games, clan and vendor tents. This event participates in The Scots Heritage Society's Best Scottish Dress Awards.
Contact: Glenda Mason, elcameo@yahoo.com Tel: 02 9823 9450, Fax: 02 9823 5065.
Beechworth Celtic Festival
November 11-12, 2006
Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
Two street parades, one early afternoon and one at dusk under candlelight escort. The event will be held in the centre of Beechworth with the most anyone will pay being $2.00 donation. Five pipe bands, three dancing groups (both Irish and Highland) and over ten bands/entertainers.
Silver Jubilee Scottish Heritage Week
25 November - 3 December 2006
The Executive Committee and members of the
Scottish Australian Heritage Council invite everyone to participate in
the celebration of Scottish culture brought to Australia and enjoyed by
all over the many years Scots have settled on these shores. This 25th
Anniversary Scottish Heritage Week is a full celebration of the
traditions, the tartan, music, dance, heraldry, history and all aspects
of the social and spiritual influences that Scottish culture has
contributed to the creation of the Australia we enjoy today.
The Week officially opens on Sunday 26 November with the Kirkin of Tartan in St Stephen's Uniting Church, followed by The March of the Clans and Bands down Macquarie Street to the Scottish Gathering in Hyde Park North, showcasing the Scottish face of Australia, in the centre of Sydney. VIP Guests Of The Week are the Rt. Hon.the Earl of Dalhousie, Chief of Clan Ramsay, from Scotland the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Dunmore and the Countess of Dunmore!
25 November - 3 December 2006
Saturday 25 November
Day Out in Parramatta
Sunday 26 November
Official Opening Event. From 10am to 3.30pm Kirkin o the Tartan, March of the Clans & Bands Scottish Gathering in Hyde Park.
Monday 27 November
Heraldic Display at midday in Martin Place,
Official Luncheon in Parliament House, The Present state of Scotland at 7.30pm:
Talk by The Rt Hon the Earl of Dalhousie.
Tuesday 28 November
A Cultural Seminar at 2.00p.m. at History House, Macquarie Street,Sydney
Celtic Fashion Parade at 7.30p.m. at Mosman Community Centre
Wednesday 29 November
Day Out in Manly, Calum's Ceilidh at 7.30pm at Nth Sydney
Leagues Club
Thursday 30 November
Sydney Society for Scottish History at
7.30pm Sir James Barrie, Scottish Dramatist with an acted reading from
his works Edmund Barton Chambers, level 44, MLC Centre.
Friday 1 December
Inspection of Scotland-Australia Cairn at 6pm Mayoral Reception in
Mosman
Saturday 2 December
Official Closing Event. The Grand Scottish
Ball at 7pm, Star Court, Darling Park
Sunday 3 December
At 10.30am Dalhousie Service followed by Founding of Ramsay Clan Society, Australia St
David s Church, Dalhousie Street, Haberfield
Further Information:
SAHC
Hon Secretary, Mr David Campbell
PO Box 826
CRONULLA
NSW 2230
Tel: 02 9522 3631
Daylesford Highland Gathering
December 1-2, 2006
Daylesford, Victoria, Australia
Highland Dancing & Pipe Band competitions.
Contact: 03 5348 2001
Some highlights from Japan
Japan Scottish Highland Games
October 8, 2006
Kanda University at Makuhari, Tokyo, Japan
A traditional Highland Games with Heavy Events, Piping, Dancing and Drumming competitions and five-a-side football tournament. Traditional foods and stalls selling local and Highland goods. A fun day out for all the family. One of the highlights in the Tokyo calendar.
Organisers Japan-Scotland Society, St Andrew Society of Yokohama & Tokyo, Tokyo Scottish Blue Bell Club, Tokyo Piping Society.
Contact:
www.japanhighlandgames.com
Kansai Highland Games
October 22, 2006
Kobe, Japan
Founded in 1989 by Maud Robertson Ramsay, Lady of Ramsey MBE. Traditional Scottish events including Heavy athletics, dancing, piping & stands.
Some highlights from New Zealand
Auckland Highland Games and Gathering
November 18, 2006
College Rifles Grounds, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand
Some highlights from Canada
Celtic Colours International Festival
October 6-14, 2006
Location: Various communities, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Founded in 1997. Provides workshops in piping, drumming, drum major, highland dancing, country dancing, Celtic harp, Celtic fiddle, folk music, spinning and weaving and story tellers.
Fall Colloquium
September 30th
Dr Marjory Harper, winner of the Saltire Society's Scottish History Book of the Year, for Adventures and exiles, is coming from the University of Aberdeen to talk about Scottish migration to Canada. In addition to more speakers, there will be bagpipes, some highland dancing, as well as some wonderful book displays. It promises to be a great day.
www.scottishstudies.ca and www.uoguelph.ca/scottish
Some highlights from Netherlands and Belgium
Schotland Life in Puttershoek, the Netherlands
7 October 2006
Organised by the World of Scotland
International Whisky Festival, Pieterskerk Leiden, the Netherlands
10/12 November 2006
Schotse dagen in Ooidonk, Bachte-Maria-Leerne (Deinze), Belgium
19/20 August 2006
Celtic Weekend, Merelbeke
4/5 November 2006
Some highlights from England
A message from Joe Flaherty of the LSFC 75/85 Club
Thursday 26th October 2006
If you're looking to entertain clients and enjoy Scottish rugby and golf
camaraderie then look no further than the forthcoming Auction of Promises
Dinner with the theme "Rugby and Golf", run by Joe Flaherty and our friends
at the LSFC 75/85 Club, at The Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, London, SW1
on Thursday 26th October 2006 at 7pm for 7.30pm. Compere and Auctioneer: Ian
Robertson BBC Rugby Correspondent. Principal Speaker: Professor David Purdie
– "Arguably the best after dinner speaker of the moment" – The Daily Telegraph.
The evening is for ladies and gentlemen and includes: sumptuous 4-course meal; excellent wines; fine beer and whiskies; pipers and full entertainment; superb auction and exclusive prizes. Tables of 10 are £1000. Individual bookings welcome at £100 per head. Proceeds go directly to London Scottish (Rugby) FC in their journey to re-establish themselves in the National leagues of English Rugby.
If you are interested in booking a table or joining a Scots In London table, please contact eddietait@scotsinlondon.com as soon as possible. Don't delay.
Please continue to spread the word about Scots In London – be dynamic and passionate – subscribe to SIL network, news, events, social and business networking et al. www.scotsinlondon.com/contact.htm or see below for full contact SIL details.
Diary date: Tuesday 21st November 2006 - SIL Quarterly Extravaganza at new Caledonian Club featuring Nicky Spence. Details out soon.
