Have you ever thought about exploring the Doric language and its rich cultural heritage? If you are a teacher, school, or youth group leader looking for a fun and meaningful way to engage young people with their local heritage, the Buchan Heritage Society has an exciting opportunity for you.
Doric Prose & Poetry Competition 2025/26: A Call to Schools and Youth Groups
The Society’s annual Doric Prose & Poetry Competition is now open for entries, inviting children and young people to create original works in Doric. This competition is a fantastic way to encourage creativity, language skills, and cultural pride among students and youth members.
What the Prose Section Involves: Participants are invited to write original short stories or essays in Doric, showcasing their imagination and storytelling skills within the word limits for their age category. Whether it’s a tale about local life, a funny adventure, or a heartfelt reflection, prose entries let young writers express themselves in their own unique Doric voice.
What the Poetry Section Involves: This section welcomes original poems in Doric, from traditional rhymes to free verse. Young poets can play with rhythm, rhyme, and language to capture feelings, stories, or local culture in a creative and expressive way. It’s all about having fun with words and celebrating the musicality of Doric.
Competition Details:
Closing Date: 31st March 2026
- Prose Categories:
- Junior 1 (9 years & under): up to 300 words
- Junior 2 (10–12 years): up to 500 words
- Intermediate (13–17 years): up to 1000 words
- Open: up to 2000 words
- Poetry Categories:
- Junior 1 (9 years & under)
- Junior 2 (10–12 years)
- Intermediate (13–17 years)
- Open
Schools should submit a School Submission Sheet along with a Publicity Consent Form for each participant. Entries must include a completed entry form and can be sent to Brian Thomson at 2 Market Hill, Ellon, AB41 8BP, or emailed to bthomson2486@gmail.com.
Full competition details, entry forms, and guidance are available at www.buchanheritagesociety.co.uk.
Why Participate?
- Inspire young people to connect with their local language and culture.
- Develop writing and creative skills in a supportive environment.
- Celebrate the unique Doric heritage of Scotland’s North-East.
- Opportunity for recognition and prizes.
- Gie Doric a bash, hae a lauch, an show fit ye can dae — it’s aa aboot the fun.
Additional Activities
The Buchan Heritage Society also hosts the Strichen Festival on 22–23 May 2026, featuring music, verse, storytelling, and traditional dancing—an excellent event for schools and youth groups to experience Doric culture firsthand.
The Society publishes Heirskip, an annual magazine dedicated to Doric heritage, and holds monthly meetings with speakers and cultural events open to all.
Join the Movement
Encourage your students or youth group members to take part in this vibrant celebration of Doric language and culture. Whether through prose or poetry, young voices can help keep this unique heritage alive and thriving.
The Buchan Heritage Society is a volunteer-led group dedicated to preserving and promoting the Doric language and culture of North-East Scotland. Through events, publications, and community engagement, they work tirelessly to keep this rich heritage accessible and alive for future generations.
For more information, visit www.buchanheritagesociety.co.uk or contact Brian Thomson directly.
Let’s keep Doric alive and kicking, one word at a time!
A Wee Doric Send-Off
(wi mony apologies tae the Buchan Heritage Society for this verra puir, hauf-learnt, an likely sair-aff attempt at Doric — ony mistaks are ma ain, an nae reflection on the guid fowk that ken fit they’re daein!)
Weel noo, gin ye’re speirin fit for we should bide keepin the Scots tongue gaun, jist tak a meenit an gie this a think: fit’s a ceilidh wi’oot a guid auld blether? Or a neebourheid wi’ nae crack tae gar ye fair grin fae lug tae lug? Doric’s no juist a leid ava — it’s a richt braw wye o haudin oor heids heich an oor herts licht. Sae tak yer pen, hae a lauch, an gie’t a richt sair bash — afore the bairns grow up no kennin a word o’t ava, an we’re left wi’ naething but quaitness an auld fishin yairns fae lang syne. Keep the Doric fire lowpin an spittin, lads an quines, or ye’ll be missin oot on the best blether in a’ Scotland. Cheers noo, an that’s nae lee.