Yorkshire Day in England Date in the current year: August 1, 2024

Yorkshire, also known as the County of York, is a historic county in Northern England. Although it has been subdivided into several local government areas due to its great size compared to other countries, it is still recognized as a cultural region. The emblem of Yorkshire is the White Rose of York. Originally the symbol of the royal House of York, it has been also recognized as the symbol of York for centuries.

The name “Yorkshire” was derived from the Scandinavian Kingdom of Jórvík, which was conquered by England in 954. The county began to prosper in the 12th and 13th centuries. In the 15th century, it was affected by the Wars of the Roses between the House of York and the House of Lancaster. The recovery of Yorkshire began in the 16th century.

In the following centuries, the development of the wool textile industry, later joined by the steel and coal industries, led to Yorkshire’s continued growth. The growth declined during the Great Depression and after World War II; since the decline of heavy industries, many cities of Yorkshire have reinvented themselves as centers of trade and commerce.

Yorkshire Day was launched by the Yorkshire Ridings Society as a protest against the Local Government Act 1972, which divided Yorkshire into four local government areas: North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and Humberside. Members of the Society saw it as a threat to the identity of Yorkshire and created Yorkshire Day to campaign for the wider recognition of the historic borders of Yorkshire and its traditional ridings.

The date of August 1 was chosen for several reasons. First, it had already been observed by the Light Infantry, which originated in Yorkshire, as Minden Day. Minden Day is the anniversary of a major battle during the Seven Year’s War, where an Anglo-German army defeated a French-Saxon force; on this day, Light Infantry regiments are permitted to wear the white rose of York in the headdress.

In addition, August 1 is also the anniversary of the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire. This event is important for Yorkshire because William Wilberforce, an independent Member of Parliament for Yorkshire, was one of the leaders of the abolition movement, whose campaigning led to the adoption of the Slavery Abolition Act.

On Yorkshire Day, lord mayors, mayors and other civic heads from across Yorkshire participate in a civic gathering convened by the Yorkshire Society. It takes place in a new city each year. Another Yorkshire Day tradition is public reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity, which declares the historic boundaries of Yorkshire and its ridings. In York, the declaration is read four times, once for the City of York and once for each riding.

Yorkshire Day wasn’t widely acknowledged during its early years, and it still receives some criticism from those who consider it a “Hallmark holiday” or a concerned that it’s becoming too commercialized.