Yorkshire Day
A day set aside for celebrating all that is special about Yorkshire seemed The Ridings Society a good way of advancing our aim of protecting the county's individuality and character.
Our members chose 1 August - the day when Yorkshire Soldiers who had fought in the Battle of Minden in Germany picked white roses as tributes to their dead comrades.
Coincidentally or not, it is also the day on which slavery was officially abolished, following campaigning by Yorkshireman William Wilberforce.
Since Yorkshire Day was first organised in 1975, the event has grown in popularity and is now celebrated in most towns and villages that consider themselves part of the 'real' Yorkshire.
Critics say the day only reinforces outdated stereotypes about Yorkshire, but supporters argue that it gives residents the chance to celebrate their heritage and preserves the 'pure' Yorkshire identity. In recent years the day has also been used to advance Yorkshire's case for its own regional government, and there have been calls for it to be designated as a public holiday.
The society invites you or your organisation to Celebrate Yorkshire Day on August 1st each year.
Yorkshire Day, a day to celebrate everything Yorkshire, but especially the integrity of the county, has been promoted by the society for nearly forty years.
Each year, on that day, members of the society read a declaration of the integrity of Yorkshire at four of the Bars of York.
A reading is held facing into each of the three ridings and into the city. In recent years a reading has been held in the city centre, too.
"I, (name), being a resident of the [West/North/East] Riding of Yorkshire [or City of York] declare:
That Yorkshire is three Ridings and the City of York, with these Boundaries of 1134 years standing;
That the address of all places in these Ridings is Yorkshire;
That all persons born therein or resident therein and loyal to the Ridings are Yorkshiremen and women;
That any person or corporate body which deliberately ignores or denies the aforementioned shall forfeit all claim to Yorkshire status.
These declarations made this Yorkshire Day [year]. God Save the Queen!"
Many celebrations of Yorkshire Day now take place all over the county, and indeed, around the world. Yorkshire Day Celebrations range from gatherings of family and friends to civic ceremonies, or can be as simple as reminding each other what's great about Yorkshire.