This year’s Yorkshire Day on 1st August is hosted in York. We celebrated with a delve in to its history.
The biggest event in Yorkshire’s calendar, Yorkshire Day, was held in York this year, with several events held throughout the city to celebrate the region. Yorkshire Day was first established in 1975 to protest the local government re-organisation of 1974 and has grown in significance for the county year on year.
The event is held on 1st August as the roots of the day comes from the Battle of Minden which took place on same date; a battle in which the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry played a prominent role in, and where they picked the now traditional white rose to honour their fallen comrades. 1st August is also a significant date as in 1833, the Slavery Abolition Act was passed, which former Yorkshire MP William Wilberforce campaigned for. So coincidental or not, the date is rich with history for the county, so a perfect date to hold the regional celebrations.
In 1985, local authorities decided to mark the day with an annual civic gathering of Yorkshire mayors, lord mayors, and other dignitaries in full regalia which now acts as the focal point for celebrations that take place across the whole region.
The first of these civic celebrations was held in York, much like this year’s event. Since then, the councils and mayors of different towns and cities have hosted the breakfast reception, thanksgiving service, and street parade that make up the festivities. The hosts have the honour of being the official Yorkshire Day town or city for a full calendar year, which is marked with the handing over of the Yorkshire Day flag, with each council adding its coat of arms to record their year.
The Yorkshire Society, who are the organisers of the civic event, have modernised in recent years by expanding it to the community and encouraging the public to participate, each year the host town or city is provided with a fantastic opportunity to boost local economy and connect with its citizens.
Not only does the day have huge cultural importance and is a way for the people of Yorkshire show pride in where they live, but also sends a strong message about the importance of our regional economy and promotes the importance of the county.
Coming together every year to celebrate Yorkshire is the ideal way to show pride in the place we’re lucky enough to call home. It cements local identity and highlights everything that is great about our county from its beautiful countryside scenery and vibrant cities, to local traditions and all the delightful food and drink it has to offer.
