Celebrating Easter and looking back at some of our more unusual events and traditions celebrated in Yorkshire.
5. Duck race
Each year hundreds of plastic, yellow toys are thrown into rivers and streams for duck races held across the county. Duckmania usually comes to Hebden Bridge on Easter Monday when the ducks – up to 10,000 – are all launched at the same time into the River Calder from St George’s Bridge. A similar duck racing event is also held in Ripon on Easter Sunday.
6. Maundy money
Every year, on the Thursday before Good Friday, the Queen hands out special purses of coins to elderly people who have worked in their community. The Maundy Service mirrors the tale of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. The Queen has marked the occasion in Yorkshire including at York Minster, Wakefield Cathedral and Selby Abbey.
7. Shoe shine
In Ripon in the late 18th century boys would run around the streets after the church services of Easter Sunday to take the buckles from the shoes of every female they could find. This would continue until midday the following day when the females would then do the same to the men until the Tuesday evening. Photo: AdobeStock
8. Raising fo the Easter Cross Otley Chevin
The 36ft symbol has been an iconic feature of the local landscape at Easter for almost every year since it was introduced by Otley Council in 1969. It is put in place at Surprise View.