Everything you need to know about Yorkshire Day!

Yorkshire Day is upon us! So, er, what exactly is it? How did this all begin? What traditional customs take place? And what should I be doing to celebrate?

Fear not, for answers to all these questions and more, you’re in the right place. Settle back and have a read. You might want to get the kettle on. Yorkshire Tea obviously.

When is Yorkshire Day?

An easy one to start. 1st August. Every year, without fail, always 1st August. Why? Well, there’s a couple of reasons given.

It was 1st August 1833 that The Slavery Abolition Act was passed. Yorkshire MP William Wilberforce had led the campaign. So, August 1st marks a huge landmark event in human history that had origins in Yorkshire.

Another reason given is Minden Day – also 1st August. That’s the day the Battle of Minden was fought in 1759. The Brits & Germans defeated the French. Various army regiments were involved including one that later became The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. It’s said the soldiers picked white roses in tribute to their fallen comrades. You could say we’re marking a day Yorkshire was victorious in battle and remembering our county’s fallen.

When did Yorkshire Day begin?

It was held for the first time in 1975. The Yorkshire Ridings Society, big fans of the old-style, North, East and West Ridings of the historic county of Yorkshire set it up as a kind of protest against the 1974 local government re-organisation.

As all those fans of local government re-organisation will already know, that was when the old boundaries and names went and we got county and district councils for the first time.

Since then we’ve seen metropolitan county councils go and unitary authorities spring up, but all this local government chat is for another article.

What happens on Yorkshire Day?

The Yorkshire Society always has an annual get together of its members plus all the many Mayors, Lord Mayors and civic leaders from across the county. It’s hard to imagine a bigger collection of seriously blinged local dignitaries. They pick a different place in Yorkshire every year. Whitby in 2019, an online version replacing plans in Rotherham in 2020 for obvious reasons, York in 2021 and Keighley for 2022. A Yorkshire flag is ceremonially passed between councils. They get to keep it for 'their year'.

Yorkshire's 'Declaration of Integrity'

The Yorkshire Ridings Society, keen to keep the old-school North, East & West Ridings traditions alive, head to York for a good old reciting of 'The Declaration of Integrity'. The old Ridings all have boundaries with York’s city walls. So, if you head out of three different bars (city gates in the walls) you can be in each of the Ridings. The Society members will recite the declaration four times - that’s once in each of the Ridings and once inside the city walls.

In fact, if you fancy it, you can do the declaration yourself:

"I, (name), being a resident of the (North/East/West) Riding of Yorkshire (or City of York) declare:

That Yorkshire is three Ridings and the City of York, with these Boundaries of 1147 years' standing; That the address of all places in these Ridings is Yorkshire; That all persons born therein or resident therein and loyal to the Ridings are Yorkshiremen and women; That any person or corporate body which deliberately ignores or denies the aforementioned shall forfeit all claim to Yorkshire status.

These declarations made this Yorkshire Day 2022. God Save the Queen!"

How can I celebrate Yorkshire Day?

Well of course, you could fly the flag. As recently as 2008, there were laws about flying certain flags without planning permission. The Yorkshire Flag has now been included on the Register of Flags, giving it 'exempt flag' status. So, feel free to fly the county's famous flag without planning permission.

By ‘eck lad, there be temptation to drift into Yorkshire stereotypes on Yorkshire Day. If you feel like embracing it, you go for it. A flat cap might suit you. Do we need to be asked twice to indulge in our county’s finest produce? Let’s feast on Yorkshire puddings, parkin, Wensleydale… the list goes on... and if that doesn’t float your boat, they make Haribo in Castleford and Pontefract, so that counts.

Whatever you’re eating, it’s likely you're washing it down with a cup of Yorkshire Tea. Even a glass of Yorkshire water would be fitting. It’s said to be stronger than a pint of Lancashire beer.*

*Not true, just made that up.

Did you know these famous faces were from Yorkshire?

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