Mother's Day

A History of Mothering Sunday in the UK

This holiday falls each year on the 4th Sunday in Lent, and thus comes at a different time each year. In 2010, Mothering Sunday falls on March 14th.Children today of any age celebrate Mothering Sunday by giving gifts and cards to their mums, much as people do all around the world.The origins of Mothering Sunday in the UK have little at all to do with one's Mum though!

The Christian Origins of Mothering Sunday in the UK

400 years ago, in the 1600s people would worship at their nearest parish church, called a "daughter" church. Once a year though, during Lent it was considered important that all people would attend the "mother" church, the main church or cathedral of the area.

This also became a time of family reunions as children who were working away from home would return home.

Children were routinely sent out to work or in an apprenticeship by ten years of age at this time.Young British boys and girls were only allowed one day each year in which to visit famliy. In most communities this was Mothering Sunday.

The cook or housekeeper would frequently allow the maids to bake a cake to take home for their mother.It became traditional to bring flowers as the children would have to walk home to their village, and would pick wild flowers from the meadows along the way. These flowers would be blessed at the church before being given to their mothers.

The Simnel Cake in antiquity
The simnel cake is a fruit cake. A flat layer of marzipan is placed over the top and it is decorated with 11 marzipan balls, representing the 12 apostles, while omitting Judas who betrayed Jesus.

These cakes have been known since medieval times and the word probably derivesfrom 'simila', meaning fine wheaten flour. This is what the cakes were made from.

Mothering Sunday Poem
It is the day of all the year,

Of all the year the one day,

When I shall see my mother
dear,

And bring her cheer,

A~mothering on Sunday.

It is the day of all the year,

Of all the year the one day,

And here come I my mother

dear,

To bring you cheer,

A~mothering on Sunday