Every year, Folkmoot USA brings together a diverse collection of people and cultures from all around the world. From the dances to the costumes to the music and instruments, every Folkmoot Festival performance highlights what is unique to each culture, including everything from courtship rituals to stories of battle.  

For its first literary contest, Folkmoot USA asks people of all ages to think about and share stories of their own cultural traditions. Topics may include "traditional" Folkmoot topics like music and dance, but contestants are also encouraged to explore other aspects of culture such as holidays, food, clothing and more. Through words and/or pictures, tell us about your favorite cultural tradition in your family, what makes it special to you, and where it originated. 

Entries will be judged within three categories: youth, young adult, adult. There is no geographic restriction about where the contestants currently live. Entries are limited to 1,000 words maximum (in English) and/or 10 images or artistic depictions. Contestants should include the following in each submission:

1. Identify the culture (country or civilization) where your tradition originates
2. Describe how the Folkmoot Festival relates to your memory or tradition (if applicable)
3. Explain why the tradition is important to you (and your family)
4. Describe the earliest origin of the tradition (if known)
5. Explain how the tradition relates to the culture
6. Describe how the tradition has changed over time

8 paper copies must be received in the Folkmoot office by 5:00 p.m. on May 12, 2010. Winners will be announced by June 16, 2010. Winning entries in each category will be published on www.folkmootusa.org, in local newspapers as well as in the official Folkmoot Souvenir Program book, and announced in a press release.  The three winners (and up to 4 family members or friends) will also join together to enjoy a private Folkmoot Performance with lunch at the Folkmoot Friendship Center during the Folkmoot Festival, July 22 – August 1, 2010.  

Judges include: Margaret Osondu of Blue Ridge Osondu Books; Steven T. Heulett, Department Chair, Arts and General Education, Haywood Community College; George Ivey, author of the new novel Up River and articles in Nature Conservancy, Iceland Review, and Smoky Mountain News; Constance Richards, author of several books and articles in Time Magazine, Life Magazine, People, Fortune, Sports Illustrated, and Conde Nast Traveler (including interviews with Mike Wallace, Tipper Gore, skaters Oksana Baiul, Yekaterina Gordeyeva and Sergei Grinkov); Michael Beadle, award-winning journalist and author of the poetry collection An Invented Hour and recently published book Haywood County (Images of America). Vicki Hyatt, Mountaineer Publishing editor and former Montana state legislator and county commissioner; and Bibeka Shrestha, award-winning reporter and arts & events editor for Smoky Mountain News who has also reported for The Kathmandu Post in Nepal, her country of birth.