Yorkshire Day is celebrated on 1 August to promote the historic English county of Yorkshire. It was celebrated in 1975, by the Yorkshire Ridings Society, initially in Beverley, as "protest movement against the Local Government re-organisation of 1974", 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.
The day was already celebrated by The Light Infantry, successors to the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, as Minden Day. Together with five other infantry regiments of the British Army, a rose is permitted to be worn in the headdress. In the case of the Light Infantry, the rose is white.
Amongst the celebrations there is a Civic gathering of Lord Mayors, Mayors, and other Civic Heads from across the county, convened by the Yorkshire Society, which has been held in:
- 1998: Huddersfield
- 1999: Kingston upon Hull
- 2001: Wakefield
- 2003: Halifax
- 2004: Leeds
- 2005: Bradford
- 2006: Penistone
- 2007: Kingston upon Hull
- 2008: Redcar
- 2009: Malton
- 2010: Hedon
- 2011: Wakefield
- 2012: Scarborough
Saltburn, Guisborough and Saddleworth have also played host.
Similar events have been promoted by the Friends of Real Lancashire (27 November, since 1996) and the Huntingdonshire Society (25 April, since 2002) to promote their counties.
Read more about Yorkshire Day: Critical Reaction
Famous quotes containing the word day:
“I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
—Bible: New Testament, Matthew 12:36,37.