Lancashire Day

Did you know that today is Lancashire Day? Did you even know there was such a thing as Lancashire Day? No, me neither, but I stumbled across a reference to it on the internet and was intrigued. 27 November marks the day in 1295 when Lancashire sent its first representatives to Parliament and is championed by the Friends of Real Lancashire. There are events being held throughout the County before, during and after the big day.

After finding out about Lancashire Day, my mind raced with all the possibilities for celebrating with the girls at work (as it's on a work day). First we would have to begin with the Proclamation:

"Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of Her Majesty's County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby are forever entitled to style themselves Lancastrians. Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines, this day shall ever mark the peoples' pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke."

Then, every good public celebration has to have a parade so, a parade around the desks, everyone holding aloft a red rose (the symbol of Lancashire) or a Lancashire peeler. A what? Yes, Lancashire has its very own style of peeler.

Now you might be thinking that this looks like any other kind of peeler but it's all in the detail. What makes this one a Lancashire peeler is the twine around the handle.

For a good celebration, you also need music, preferably traditional but with a modern twist as befits the occasion. Maybe something like this.

With the music in place, there could be maypole dancing around the coatstands or clog dancing, if anyone can find their clogs.

And of course, food. Savoury treats like Bury black pudding, Lancashire cheese, Lancashire hotpot and butter pies. And for dessert: Chorley cakes, Eccles cakes and Goosnargh cakes. Lancashire is clearly keen on cakes.

Animated with excitement and enthusiasm, I shared these thoughts with the girls at work. They laughed and gently suggested it might be time I had a day off. Ah well. In the end, we are going to have a mini celebration by having coffee and the Eccles and Chorley cakes and I'll be proudly wearing my handmade Lancashire rose brooch which I'll share with you next time. And I'll write about Goosnargh cakes and some of the other foods one day too.

In the meantime, to all proud Lancastrians, I wish you a very happy Lancashire Day!