The contest organised by the ?ubniany Culture Centre under the title “On first name terms with Silesia” has been held no fewer than 13 times and there have already been two publications associated with it. Every year for a few weeks children, young people and adults prepare tales in the Silesian dialect describing old customs, rituals, ceremonies, legends and everyday chores in the Opole countryside. Then they present them in front of a jury. The jury includes the poet Jan Goczo?, Prof. Bogus?aw Wyderka from the Opole University, Prof. Teresa Smoli?ska – Head of the Faculty of Folklore and Culture Studies of the Opole University, and Piotr Badura – chief editor of the “Beczka” newspaper. All the winning entries are presented in two publications accompanied by a CD. Because of the specific nature of the dialect, the CD contains the phonetic transcription of the entries. The aim of the contest is to shape and popularise the knowledge about the history and culture of rural areas in the region. The contest covers the whole of the Opolskie province, but the entries are also sent from the Silesian province. Every year about 220 entries are submitted. The honorary patron of the contest is Prof. Dorota Simonides; the media patron are the local radio and television stations.