YORKSHIRE Day was celebrated like Christmas yesterday with a large multitude of events and initiatives being run throughout the region as well as posts galore across social media showing appreciation and respect for God’s Own County.

Exactly three quarters of people polled told the T&A they would be celebrating Yorkshire Day this year.

Much of the action took place at Bolling Hall where there was a Yorkshire Pudding throwing contest, face painting, a funfair and a gathering of Vikings.

The Vikings, from Bradford-based group Ulfhedmar - which means men of wolf - showed the public weapon displays, explained the use of chainmail and shields, as well as offering fun for kids in the form of helmet try-ons and the chance to design their own shield to keep.

One of the Vikings, Ashna Yates said: “We could of done with 100 shields, I didn’t expect it to be so popular. The kids were great and asked really good questions.”

She said: “I was born in Haworth and I’ve spent all my life in Yorkshire, other than when I was at uni. I just think it’s brilliant. I brought my husband back here from Staffordshire and he’s very happy now - he likes it better here, likes the people and says it feels strange whenever we go back to where he’s from.”

Others from further afield also showed their affinity for Yorkshire.

Neil Fisher, Deputy Arts Editor for The Times, said in a tweet: “Ooh Yorkshire Day. Thanks to my Bradford-born dad I use the word snicket and no one ever knows what I’m talking about.”

Those who were jetting off around and out of the country yesterday morning at Leeds-Bradford Airport were able to experience the joys of Yorkshire in the form of flash mob performance.

Jet2 teamed up with local singing group, So Choir!, who were invited to take part in a Yorkshire-inspired sing song for all jet-setters at the airport.

The choir were donned in Yorkshire’s favourite accessory, the flat cap, and sang a mixture of melodies, from the region’s adopted anthem Ilkley Moor Baht ‘at to more modern tunes from Yorkie band, the Kaiser Chiefs.

Phil Ward, Managing Director of Jet2, said: “As Yorkshire’s leading airline and tour operator we wanted to celebrate our Yorkshire heritage in style, whilst wishing customers a lovely holiday and putting everybody in the holiday spirit.”

He added: “We certainly managed to do that, and customers departing this morning took off on their well-deserved holidays with a real spring in their step.”

Sir Rodney Walker, a Yorkshireman through and through and who was appointed Chairman of The Yorkshire Society earlier this month, had some words to say about his beloved county.

He said: “Yorkshire is not only England’s biggest county, it is probably the most diverse and is often referred to as ‘God’s own county’. I am proud to be a Yorkshireman and as I travel the UK and beyond, I never fail to extol the virtues of the county and what it has to offer.

“The fact that the county has its own Yorkshire Day on the 1st of August is a reminder of how for many years the citizens of the county have felt it important to celebrate the county and what it means to be a part of the county.

“There are too many aspects of the county to celebrate that it’s difficult to single out just one; from the picturesque and rugged coast, the counties magnificent scenery, important historic grand houses, famous sons and daughters from the county, world-renowned centres of artistic excellence to name but a few.

He added: “It would be wrong to try to compete with London; London is after all the capital city and famous throughout the world as a tourist destination. That said, thanks to the work of Welcome to Yorkshire, Yorkshire too is attracting increasing numbers of visitors. What we need to do now is to promote the county as not only a place to visit but to come to invest, work and live.”

Celebrities have been visiting and name-checking Otley as part of the Yorkshire Day celebrations.

The town’s 21 pubs all adopted the names of regional stars this week to mark the occasion.

That meant people could enjoy a drink in the likes of the Dame Judi Dench (The Horse and Farrier), The Sean Bean (The Fleece) or The Jarvis Cocker (The Manor House) yesterday.

Among the celebrities visiting the town for the occasion were Dickie Bird, who popped into ‘his’ inn - The Otley Tavern - on Saturday.