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Yorkshire Times
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Jan Harris
Deputy Group Editor
11:48 AM 1st August 2020
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Celebrating Yorkshire Day 2020

 
Yorkshire Day which is celebrated on the 1 August promotes the historic English county of Yorkshire. The date alludes to the Battle of Minden, and also the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire in 1834, for which a Yorkshire MP, William Wilberforce, had campaigned.

What is it?

Every year on the 1st August Yorkshire Day is celebrated and it is a celebration of everything that is Yorkshire.

Edmund of Langley was the first Duke of York and the founder of the House of York and he is thought to have adopted the white rose as a symbol in the 14th century.

Yorkshire is named after York and York is a shortened form of the Viking name Jorvik, which was in turn an interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon name Eoforwic.

Yorkshire is known as 'God's Own County' and Yorkshire is the biggest county in the UK, with a population of over 5 million which is almost twice the size of Wales.

The official Yorkshire flag was first unfurled in Hull in 2008 and since then flags will be flying all around Yorkshire on Yorkshire Day.

Why celebrate?

Yorkshire flag - photo credit Adam Wyles
Yorkshire flag - photo credit Adam Wyles
Normally on Yorkshire Day members of the Yorkshire Ridings Society carry the Yorkshire flag and lead the annual walk around the walls of York. The Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity is read at the 4 Bars (Gates) in York annually on Yorkshire Day, one for each Riding and once for the City of York.

Every Yorkshire Day there is a civic celebration when the council and Mayor of different towns and cities have the honour of hosting it. It should have been the turn of Rotherham in 2020 but obviously this has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. An online event is being organised instead. Next year in 2021 it will be the turn of York to host the event.

Tan Hill Inn - photo credit alljengi
Tan Hill Inn - photo credit alljengi
Some interesting facts about Yorkshire

Yorkshire's three National Parks – the North York Moors, most of the Yorkshire Dales, and part of the Peak District – account for nearly a third of the total area of National Parks in the UK

The Tan Hill Inn in Swaledale is said to be Britain’s highest pub at 1,732ft above sea level.

The earliest reference to ‘Yorkshire Pudding’ was in Hannah Glasse’s Art Of Cookery in 1747.

The Yorkshire Terrier breed was developed during the 19th century in Yorkshire and is often called a Yorkie.

Leeds, York, and Scarborough are among the top ten most visited English towns by UK residents.

Shambles in York is regarded as the best-preserved medieval street in Europe.

If Yorkshire were an independent country it would have finished an incredible twelfth on the league table in the 2012 Olympics gaining 7 Golds, 2 Silvers and 3 Bronze.

Yorkshire hosted the Grand Depart of the Tour de France in 2014.

Wensleydale cheese originates from Yorkshire, the Rhubarb Triangle is situated in West Yorkshire and The Magpie Cafe in Whitby offers award-winning Fish 'n' Chips.

Many businesses have also been founded in Yorkshire, such as Morrisons, Marks & Spencer, Tetley's Brewery and the Taylors Group, famous for Bettys and Yorkshire Tea.

Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Some famous Yorkshire people:

It is an endless list and includes inventors, explorers, politicians, writers and actors. Here are just a few:

Guy Fawkes
William Wilberforce
Captain James Cook
Amy Johnson
Bronte sisters
Harold Wilson
Ted Hughes
Helen Sharman
Brian Blessed
Sir Patrick Stewart
Dame Judi Dench
Sir Captain Tom Moore

Yorkshire Day on Social Media

Don't forget to spread your news about what you're doing on Yorkshire Day by using the hashtag #YorkshireDay to your tweet.

How much more is known about Yorkshire?

Well the list is endless. So if the coronavirus pandemic cramps your style in 2020 remember there will always be another Yorkshire Day next year.

So today is #YorkshireDay - if you're from Yorkshire wear your Yorkshire rose with pride, or even if you're not, join with us in the celebrations because today is #YorkshireDay.

Enjoy Yorkshire Day!