| Where: | York, Yorkshire beginning at Micklegate Bar |
| When: | 21st December |
| Time: | 6pm |
Every 21st December the custom of the Sheriff’s Riding takes place after dusk in York. Nowadays it’s a blend of two ancient traditions : that of the Sheriff’s Ride around the streets on horseback accompanied by musicians, which in earlier days took place during November, and Yulegirthol which has always been on December 21st and originally involved brief proclamations at set locations around the city. Now the two are combined and the Sheriff, on foot, is accompanied by the York Waits in their livery and the York Guard halberdiers; they process around the city, music playing all the while. The event begins with a proclamation at Micklegate Bar and further proclamations and horn blowing take place at several points on the tour, which ends after about three-quarters of an hour or so with the Sheriff’s speech at the Mansion House. The proclamations welcome to the city “whores, thieves, diceplayers and other unthrifty folk” for the period of twelve days of Yule. Afterwards the participants celebrate with venison pasties and sherry. York’s narrow medieval streets are the perfect setting for this atmospheric perambulation on the darkest day of the turning year, and the twinkling light combined with the distinctive drumbeat create an impression of having slipped back in time for a few hundred years. I loved it!
Helpful Hints
In 2024 it should be at the usual 6pm on 21st at Micklegate Bar – check the links below for updates near the time.
Click here for the York Waits’ website : http://www.theyorkwaits.org.uk/index.html
and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheYorkWaits
and here for the Mansion House: http://www.mansionhouseyork.com
Many thanks to Charles Kightly for the 2022 photos and helpful updates!
View this location on the map.
Due to COVID restrictions, we regret that the Sheriff’s Riding will not take place this year, 2020.
Charles Kightly, City Standard Bearer
Many thanks for the confirmation – expected but a pity!
Bets wishes,
Averil
Glad to say the Sheriff’s Riding did take place as usual in 2021
Charles Kightly
Very pleased to hear that, thank you – 2021 has been an improvement on 2020 (still room for further improvement in 2022 however!)
Averil
Should have posted this earlier, but glad to report that the Riding did take place yesterday [21 December 2022] and was bigger and better than ever
That’s great news, Charles- thanks for the update. I look forward to returning some time as it’s a really atmospheric evening- one of my winter favourites!
Best wishes,
Averil
To confirm that the Riding is expected to take place as usual on 21 December 2023
Dear Charles
Many thanks for the confirmation for the event!
Best wishes
Averil
We would like to send you some more recent photos of the Riding, and have some good ones. If acceptable, please tell me [after Christmas] what format to send them in, and who to send them to [with contact details, please] Reply to my personal email, please. Best wishes, Charles Kightly [ensign, York Guard]
Many thanks Charles,
I’ll be in touch soon with all the info- it’s a few years since I’ve been so some new images would be great,
Merry Christmas!
Averil
Can you please confirm details of this years event. Thank you
Hi Trevor,
I’ve just checked the York Waits’ own site and they haven’t yet officially announced the details for this year. Here at calendarcustoms we have no connection to the organisation of the Riding, so while I fully expect it will be at 6pm starting at Mickelgate Bar on 21st December as stated on the page, I can’t confirm that it’ll be exactly the same this year until the organisers add it to their schedule (those details have been the same for years but that’s no guarantee that they’ll always remain unchanged!) . Keep an eye on their own upcoming performance list at http://www.theyorkwaits.org.uk/performances.html as that’s where it should first appear. I’ll keep checking and will confirm the details when I find out for sure,
Best wishes,
Averil