Yorkshire Day: Celebration of the historic culture of the largest county in the UK

Yorkshire Day is celebrated every year on 1 August by the people of Yorkshire County. The main objective of this day is to promote the culture and traditions of the historic county of Yorkshire, England. August 1^st also marks the anniversary of the Battle of Minden on the same day in 1759. The most popular attraction of the day includes the civic gathering of lord mayors, mayors, and other civic heads from across the county. For more details related to Yorkshire Day such as its history, observation, interesting facts, etc, read this full article.

Yorkshire Day Date

Below mentioned are the upcoming dates for Yorkshire Day for the next 4 years.

Yorkshire Day Overview

History of Yorkshire Day

The initial celebration of Yorkshire Day began as a “protest movement against the local government re-organization of 1974″. Celebration of this day was organized by the Yorkshire Ridings Society in 1975. 10 years later on 29 June 1985 at a meeting of Local Authorities, a decision to celebrate Yorkshire Day with an annual civic gathering of Mayors, Lord Mayors, and other dignitaries was taken. Thus the first Yorkshire Day was celebrated in 1985 on the 1^st of August. August 1^st was chosen as the day of celebration as on the same day the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 was passed, during the British Empire in 1834. William Wilberforce, a Yorkshire MP, was the head of the campaign for emancipation. Also the day marks the anniversary of the Battle of Minden.

August special days

US Coast Guard Day

Basic History of Yorkshire

Yorkshire is one of the oldest and also the largest county in England. The history of the place dates back to around 8000 BC when the region was first occupied after the retreat of the ice age. It was later inhabited by Celtic Britons and occupied by Romans, Angles, and Vikings during the first millennium AD. The county was originally composed of three sections called Thrydings, known today as the three Ridings. The name “Yorkshire” first appeared in writing in 1065 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

Yorkshire Day Celebration

Yorkshire Day is a day of pride and is celebrated as a national day with the county having its own flag, language, anthem, and culture. The day is observed with a breakfast reception, thanksgiving service, a street parade of all the dignitaries and guests, and a formal lunch to conclude the celebration. A day of great joy and enthusiasm, Yorkshire Day beholds the biggest gathering of first citizens and civic leaders in the UK and one of the biggest in the world. 

Every year, a city is selected as the host for celebrations of Yorkshire Day. The host town or city becomes the official Yorkshire Day town or city for a full year until the next Yorkshire Day. On the occasion, the Yorkshire Day flag is handed over from one council to another and each council adds its coat of arms to the flag to record their year. The members of the Yorkshire Ridings Society also read a “Declaration of Integrity” on this occasion. In the cathedral city of York, the Declaration is made four times, once for each Riding and once for the City of York.

Fascinating Facts about Yorkshire

Check below a few fascinating facts about the famous county of Yorkshire:

1. Yorkshire has the oldest and the highest pub in England, The Bingley Arms and Tan Hill Inn respectively.
2. Yorkshire has the oldest football club in the world.
3. There are six national museums in Yorkshire.
4. Yorkshire has two UNESCO World Heritage sites- Salts Mill in Saltaire and Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey.
5. Famous personalities from Yorkshire include Dame Judi Dench, Sir Patrick Stewart, Jeremy Clarkson, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions