God’s Own Country Celebrates Yorkshire Day!

Yorkshire Day is celebrated on 1 August to promote 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.

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 Country' and Yorkshire is the biggest county in the UK, with a population of nearly 5.4 million which is almost twice the size of Wales.

Why celebrate?

It was first celebrated in 1975 by the Yorkshire Ridings Society as a protest but now Yorkshire men and women everywhere are proud to be from 'God's Own Country', often called because of its beautiful landscape and unspoilt countryside.

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.

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

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

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.

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

Some famous Yorkshire people:

The list is endless 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

Some Yorkshire Day Events:

Official Civic Celebrations

This year’s official Yorkshire Day (1st August) celebrations will be taking place in Whitby.
More information here: https://theyorkshiresociety.org/event/official-yorkshire-day-civic-celebration-2019/

2019 Regional final of the Young Traders Markets

York is proud to be hosting the regional final of the Young Traders Market on Yorkshire Day. All along Parliament Street, you'll be able to browse and shop at stalls of Yorkshire's top young retail entrepreneurs.
https://www.visityork.org/whats-on/yorkshireday

A Victorian Garden Party

Come and celebrate Yorkshire Day at Pontefract Castle with a very special Victorian garden party! Experience Pontefract Castle as it was when it first opened as a visitor attraction over 100 years ago...
https://www.experiencewakefield.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=3&feature=1136&venue=2190562

Family Drop In: Design Yummy Biscuits

Visit the We Are West Yorkshire: Bradford People display in the gallery at Cartwright Hall. Design and decorate your own yummy biscuits! Spend a day with Yorkshire's own artist Musarat Raza.
https://www.bradfordmuseums.org/whats-on/yorkshire-day-family-drop-in-design-yummy-biscuits-2019-08-01

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, but 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!