Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday, more commonly referred to as Mother’s Day, is on Sunday 10th March in UK. It is fixed in the Christian calendar on the fourth Sunday in Lent, precisely three weeks before Easter Sunday. It was first observed in the Middle Ages, (500 to 1500 AD) when children working in domestic service were allowed to visit their home or mother church on Laetare Sunday.
Laetare Sunday took its name from the first words of the Latin introit for the daily Mass, Laetare Jerusalem (Rejoice, O Jerusalem). Eventually, the day developed into a day of celebration. Lenten fasting rules were relaxed, so the day became known also as Refreshment Sunday, Simnel Sunday or Pudding Pie Sunday. Simnel cake is a light fruit cake covered with marzipan and decorated with eleven balls of marzipan, representing the eleven faithful disciples. Some sources say that it was traditionally baked on Mothering Sunday, others that it was baked by the girls in service, as proof of their cooking skills, and taken home to their mothers. The cake was a traditional component of an Easter Sunday tea.
Mother’s Day was initiated in 1907 by Anna Jarvis, whose mother tended injured soldiers during the American Civil War (1861 – 1865). She wanted to see a day of celebration that would honour mothers and the work they did. She chose the second Sunday in May. By 1911, all the US states observed the holiday, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared it a national holiday.
Like all the other ‘celebrations’, the day has been overwhelmed by commerce. It is sad that a simple celebration should have become so overblown and it is yet another day on which those who have no cause to celebrate are isolated.
Once the last overpriced bunch of flowers has been sold, Easter will be the next intense focus of the retail world.
My calendar tells me the 6th of March is a Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right - I have amended it. The grey cells are depleting day by day :-((
DeleteI never wanted a present on Mother's Day, but I did want an espresso coffee in bed. My sons couldn't cook back in those days, but they made good espresso on that important day :)
ReplyDeleteI forbade my children 'celebrating' Mother's Day. My mother forbade it, too, because of the commercialism.
DeleteIt is interesting that you say it is on the Christian calendar but we don't celebrate it until May, the same date as the US. It just shows what good heathens we are in Australia.
ReplyDeleteHappy International Women's Day. It's not been a great day here. Check my next post.
I don't think there's a lot of religiosity in UK. I know a handful of people I would describe as devout - everyone else is apathetic.
DeleteOh, yes, there is so much commercialisation attached to these "days". Sometimes I think, shouldn't these "days" have relevance every day of the year, rather than just one single day in a year?!
ReplyDeleteI agree completely - that's my argument, too.
DeleteThere's always one story l tell, relating to
ReplyDeletemia Mama..my Mum...When the time came,
half the family wanted to bury her, half wanted
to cremate her...after a long discussion...we
decided to let her live a bit longer...! HeHe! :O).
Seriously though she was 98 when she went over
the bridge...but then...we Sicilians do live forever...!
Mio Nono, my Grandad in Sicily was 106, when he
went over...l'm gonna try and beat that..HeHe! Fine
chance...! :(. (stick with the garlic Willie)...! :O).
And of course to~day is...International Women's Day.
☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ ★
106 is a very good age. My mother was 97, my mother-in-law, 96.
DeleteSo glad to see your title, Mothering Sunday, I do dislike Mothers day, we don't see our daughter on the day, she spends it with her family. I do love the hand made cards given to me.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Mothering Sunday is the correct name for the day.
DeleteIn the other European countries except France (as usual) Mother's day is on the second Sunday in May. And as you say weeks before there is so many publicity that it is impossible to forget ! What I hate is that as Motherday's gifts they always suggest household appliances, as if we couldn't read a book !
ReplyDeleteHousehold appliances to remind you of your role in life:-)
DeleteI so agree with you about the commercialism. Now, if my grown up sons do send something it feels like it may have been out of a sense of obligation and makes me feel guilty as whotsit!!! Perhaps I should tell them I'm more than happy with a message or phone call.
ReplyDeleteLovely post box topper.
Alison in Wales x
I do think many people feel obliged to observe the day in a tangible way and spend more money than they should. Be nice all year round instead . . . x x x
DeleteWe are able to commercialize anything and everything.
ReplyDeleteInteresting history of the day. I didn't know that, which is something I say a lot on your blog!
I understand that businesses have to survive, particularly the small ones, but it's not fair to make people feel uncomfortable if they don't or can't spend money on over-priced merchandise.
DeleteHumans just love to find a way to commercialize any decent holiday. Buy this and that and of course the recipient will just adore the gift, lol. My mother just wanted a quiet day after church with only having to warm up leftovers for her day. A homemade card when young from us kids and later one mailed from our long distance homes.
ReplyDeleteSimplicity is sincere and heartfelt.
DeleteMothering Sunday was taught to me as a Catholic kid in the UK to be a celebration of the motherhood of Mary and by extension, to honor our own mothers. It was religious, not commercial. My own mom's birthday was the 6th, so my little kid gift of daffodils covered both!
ReplyDeleteIt's lost its original meaning for most people, sadly.
DeleteHow very interesting. I had no idea about the origins of Mothering Day.
ReplyDeleteMother's Day is on the 12th of May this year in Belgium, but in Antwerp it's traditionally on the 15th of August, Assumption Day. Not that my family has ever celebrated either, or Father's Day for that matter ... xxx
We never have, either. My parents thought it was too commercial when we were children - they'd be amazed by it now! x x x
DeleteThose tulips are just divine!! How beautiful & someones precious work. Mothers Day here is always the 2nd Sunday in May - because we are then heading into autumn, the chrysanthemums are out! Not the spring flowers. My youngest son was born on Mothers Day so every now & again, we share the days celebrations. xx
ReplyDeleteI love chrysanthemums - that gorgeous smell and the wonderful, rich colours. x x x
DeleteYou're a great-grandmother! That's amazing. Sadly, I'll never be one - I'm 73 and my oldest grandchild is 12. You must have got going much earlier than me... I'm very envious.
ReplyDeleteChild bride;-)
DeleteAn interesting read and I do like the post box topper with the lovely bunch of tulips.
ReplyDeleteWe will be spending time with family on Mothers Day/Mothering Sunday ... I'm looking forward to it :)
Wishing you a good weekend.
All the best Jan
Enjoy your weekend:-)
DeleteNice history. Unfortunately we lost Mum almost three years ago. Mother's Day is really hard. As I live in the states there is not only this one in March - which I always celebrated for Mum, but the one in May which I also celebrated my Mum. She was the only parent who stuck around for me so I thought she deserved two (official) days to recognise her.
ReplyDeleteMy sister is going to the bench we put up for Mum on Sunday and is taking some flowers from me. I'll be thinking of her and celebrating her as a great women who raised us alone once dad took off.
It's inescapable and sad for so many - that's why I loathe all the advertising.
DeleteThank you for sharing the new tulip post box cover. It is lovely.
ReplyDeleteIt is lovely, isn't it?
DeleteHi Janice - wonderful postbox cover ... delightful - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI don't know if anyone ever sees the person or persons who put these wonderful covers on. So far, their identity is unknown.
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