Lancashire Day: Celebrating the Red Rose on 27 November

Lancashire Day falls on 27 November every year. It marks the day in 1295 when Lancashire's first representatives were summoned to Edward I's Model Parliament, and since 1996 it has been celebrated with town criers reading a proclamation, loyal toasts and the red rose flag flying from town halls across the historic county.

Coming at the end of November, it is a darker and windier occasion than most county days, which changes how you plan a display.

Why 27 November? The 1295 parliament

In 1295 Edward I called what later historians named the Model Parliament, because it brought together not only lords and bishops but also two knights from each shire and representatives of the towns. Lancashire's knights of the shire and burgesses were among those called to Westminster, so the day celebrates the county's place in English history rather than a battle or saint.

The modern day was started in 1996 by the Friends of Real Lancashire, a society that promotes the historic county. Lancashire County Council and several borough councils now support it every year.

How Lancashire Day is marked

The centrepiece is the Lancashire Day proclamation. Town criers and mayors in towns across the county read it aloud, often at midday, from market crosses, town hall steps and shopping centres. The proclamation names the historic boundaries of the county, from the Furness fells to the Mersey, and ends with "God bless Lancashire, and God save the King, Duke of Lancaster."

That last phrase matters locally. The reigning monarch is also Duke of Lancaster, whatever their sex, so the traditional Lancashire loyal toast is to "The King, Duke of Lancaster". You will hear it at civic dinners, Lancashire societies and plenty of pubs on the night.

Beyond that, the red rose goes up over County Hall in Preston and many town halls, hotpot and Eccles cakes appear on menus, and Lancashire societies at home and abroad hold dinners on the nearest weekend.

The Lancashire flag: two red roses

The red rose has stood for Lancashire for centuries. It goes back to the medieval Earls and Dukes of Lancaster, although historians think its fame as the "Lancastrian" badge of the Wars of the Roses owes a lot to Henry VII and the Tudor rose that followed. Today you will see two red rose flags in use, and it helps to know which is which before you buy.

Either is a good choice for Lancashire Day. Councils and schools wanting the "official" flag should choose gold; if you are matching existing flags, check which one you have first.

Which areas count as Lancashire?

Lancashire Day celebrates the historic county, which is larger than today's Lancashire County Council area. The 1974 local government changes placed Manchester, Liverpool, Bolton, Wigan, Oldham and their neighbours in the new metropolitan counties of Greater Manchester and Merseyside, moved Furness and Cartmel (Lancashire "North of the Sands") into Cumbria, and transferred Warrington and Widnes to Cheshire. Those changes were administrative and did not abolish the traditional county, and several town halls in Greater Manchester and Merseyside now fly the red rose for the day.

Planning a display for late November

Most county days fall in spring or summer. Lancashire Day does not, so a little extra planning pays off.

1. Choose a flag that copes with wind and rain. Late-November gales are hard on lightweight printed flags. For a pole that flies all week, a Lancashire DuraFlag, with its reinforced header and stitched fly end, will hold up far better. Our guide to flag fabrics explains the difference.
2. Get the size right. A 5ft x 3ft flag suits a house pole, a 6m pole or a wall bracket; 8ft x 5ft is for taller civic poles. See what size flag for your flagpole.
3. Bring the display indoors. With sunset around four o'clock, much of the day happens inside. Rectangular Lancashire bunting in 3m or 9m lengths dresses a bar, function room or classroom, and table flags work on reception desks and at civic dinners.
4. Hand flags for the proclamation. 9in x 6in hand flags on 30cm wooden poles suit school groups lining up for the town crier; they double as table decorations afterwards.
5. Take it down if a storm is forecast. A flag left out in a gale frays fast at the fly end.

Lancashire Day comes almost four months after the white rose has its turn: see our Yorkshire Day guide for the other side of the Pennines, and the county days calendar for every other county's date. For the stories behind the designs, read our guide to UK county flags.

Frequently asked questions

When is Lancashire Day?

27 November every year. In 2026 it falls on a Friday and in 2027 on a Saturday. It is not a bank holiday.

What is the official Lancashire flag?

A red rose on a gold (yellow) background, registered with the Flag Institute in 2008. The red rose on white is the older, unregistered design that many people still fly.

Why is the toast to "the King, Duke of Lancaster"?

The reigning monarch holds the title Duke of Lancaster, so in Lancashire the loyal toast traditionally names both titles. A queen regnant is also styled Duke, not Duchess, of Lancaster.

Can people in Manchester or Liverpool celebrate Lancashire Day?

Yes. Both cities lie within the historic county, and the day is open to anyone who wants to mark it. Several councils outside the modern Lancashire County Council area fly the flag.

Who organises Lancashire Day?

The Friends of Real Lancashire coordinate it, with councils, town criers, schools and local groups running their own events.

Browse our Lancashire flags, from the printed red rose on gold Lancashire flag to the heavier DuraFlag, add Lancashire bunting for the function room, or pick up Lancashire table flags for the dinner. For other counties, see our full county flags range.