MOST people have no idea of the significance of today on our calendar.

They might have a good reason for not knowing that November 27 is Lancashire Day - but is that good enough?

Over the border in Yorkshire the white rose day receives more attention and Scotland and Wales have their own national days as, of course, does St George.

Countries without our long history manage to find all kinds of excuses for special celebration - in the Australian state of Victoria they even have a public holiday for a horse race!

Although it falls on November 27 because that's the day in 1295 when the county's first elected representatives were summoned to parliament, some might argue that Lancashire Day owes more to marketing than tradition.

But there's nothing wrong with that.

Lancashire has plenty to be proud of and every reason to celebrate.

In the past we have been too backward in coming forward and blowing our own trumpet to celebrate with festivities which might even attract visitors as well as entertain locals.

We have a heritage lacking in other parts of the country, and the wider world, and should make the most of it.