From the Seven Year's War to modern Civic Celebration

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1
Aug

Yorkshire Day

The victory at the Battle of Minden turned into a bigger celebration than a decisive engagement in the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) would suggest. When an Anglo-German army under the overall command of Ferdinand of Brunswick defeated a French army in 1759, and the German-Prussian field marshal was awarded £20,000 and the Order of the Garter, no one would imagine the historical influence over the meaning of the day.

 

Painting of Ferdinand, Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg with the order of the Garter, by J. H. Tischbein in 1765. Credit: H. Skala/Castle of Hořovice in the Czech Republic
Painting of Ferdinand, Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg with the order of the Garter, by J. H. Tischbein in 1765. Credit: H. Skala/Castle of Hořovice in the Czech Republic

 

However, it is in the nature of the English people to protest against any governmental wrongdoing, like the Local Government Act 1972. Thus, Minden Day, which commemorates the participation of the forerunners of the British Army regiments in the Battle of Minden, was adopted in 1975 as Yorkshire Day to reflect the presence of Yorkshire Light Infantry at Minden, which is nowadays celebrated to mark all that is special about Yorkshire, to protect the historic English county’s character.

 

Yorkshire Day Greetings Card. Credit: I'm from Yorkshire Ltd
Happy Yorkshire Day. Credit: I'm from Yorkshire Ltd

 

The celebration of the Yorkshire Day involves the wearing of “Minden Roses” on the regimental headdress to recall the white roses that the Yorkshire soldiers wore at the battle as tributes to their comrades-in-arms. The colours of roses vary these days.

 

Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. Credit: Tim Hill
Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. Credit: Tim Hill

 

The Yorkshire Society annually awards a Council the honour of hosting the Society’s Civic event to mark Yorkshire Day. Since 1985 the event has been held in different towns and cities throughout the County. This year the Society’s official celebration is held in Whitby while the event coincides with the 250th anniversary of the first landing in New Zealand by Captain Cook, one of the most famous Yorkshiremen.

 

The statue of Captain Cook in Whitby harbour. Credit: Tim Hill
The statue of Captain Cook in Whitby harbour. Credit: Tim Hill

 

One of the main celebrations of the day is the reading of the Yorkshire Declaration of Integrity in Old English, Latin, Old Norse and modern English. A number of activities are planned but the main event is going to be the Civic Celebration, organised by the Yorkshire Society and Whitby Town Council. Tickets for this special event are £49.50 per person. Numbers are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Whitby map. Retrieved from Google Maps
Whitby map. Retrieved from Google Maps

 

The Yorkshire Day’s proceedings are as follows:

08:15 – 09:15 Guests park in the Marina Car Park and walk to the Star Inn the Harbour

08:30 – 09:45 Breakfast reception and Robing at the Star Inn the Harbour

 

St Hilda's Anglican Church, Whitby, seen from the south west (15 July 2010). Credit: Steve Day
St Hilda's Anglican Church, Whitby, seen from the south-west (2010). Credit: Steve Day

 

10:15 Shuttle busses transport guests to St Hilda’s Church

10:45 Yorkshire Day Service in St Hilda’s Church. Following the service, the shuttle buses will transport the guests to Church Street for the start of the Civic Procession

 

Ruins of Whitby Abbey, Yorkshire
Ruins of Whitby Abbey, Yorkshire

 

12:15 The ceremonial parade of the lord mayors, mayors, and other civic heads from across the county as well as members of the Yorkshire Society through the streets of Whitby, with a band at the front to lead

 

Yorkshire Day lunch. Credit: the Yorkshire Society
Yorkshire Day lunch. Credit: the Yorkshire Society

 

12:45 Pre-lunch reception in the Dock End marquee

13:15 Lunch prepared by Michelin-starred Chef, Andrew Pern and his team from The Star Inn the Harbour, inspired by fresh, local ingredients from Whitby

 

Yorkshire Day lunch menu 02. Credit: the Yorkshire Society
Yorkshire Day lunch. Credit: the Yorkshire Society

 

16:15 – 16:30 Departure

 

St Mary's Church in Whitby. Credit: Pete Emphyrio
St Mary's Church in Whitby. Credit: Pete Emphyrio

 

Wherever you are, if you love Yorkshire, on 1 August 2019 you can join the not-for-profit membership organisation for free, and save yourself the usual £20 annual fee for individual membership.

 

Bram Stoker used St Mary's Church graveyard as the setting for a scene in his novel "Dracula". Credit: Pete Emphyrio
Bram Stoker used St Mary's Church graveyard as the setting for a scene in his novel "Dracula". Credit: Pete Emphyrio

 

Although the popularity of gravy has started to catch up, according to the research by Plusnet, nothing seems more Yorkshire-ish for all age groups as the iconic Yorkshire pudding.

 

Yorkshire Pudding with Gravy. Credit: Kraft Heinz Canada ULC
Yorkshire Pudding with Gravy. Credit: Kraft Heinz Canada ULC