Mothers Day in UK is celebrated with great excitement and verve but it
does not fall on the same date as in US. In UK, Mother's Day
celebrations takes place on the fourth Sunday in the month of Lent.
Since the Lent days are not fixed, the date for mothers Day changes
every year.
Mothers Day came to be celebrated in UK in 17th century as Mothering
Sunday, much before the custom began in US. Today, the traditional
festival of Mothering Sunday is more commonly called as Mothers Day in
England and is celebrated in much the same way as it is celebrated in
US. On this day children give flowers and bouquets to their mother to
express their love for them.
History of Mother's Day in England
The tradition of celebrating Mothers Day began much earlier in England
than it started in USA. In fact England was the first country in the
world to dedicate a day for mothers as early as 1600s. They called this
day for mothers as
'Mothering Sunday'.
The festival has its roots in the practice wherein poor people in
England send their little children to work as domestic servants or
apprentice with the rich. At that time it was considered important by
the people that these children, staying away from their families be
allowed to visit their homes once in a year. The time decided for the
annual visit to home was middle Sunday of the fasting period of Lent
(which lasts from Ash Wednesday to Easter). For this reason, the day was
called 'Refreshment Sunday' or 'Mid-Lent Sunday'.
In England the day dedicated for mothers was more commonly called
Mothering Sunday as people, mainly children visited their 'Mother
Church' or the church of their home and not the 'Daughter Church', the
closest church in the vicinity. After paying a visit to church, children
met their mothers and presented them flowers, which they gathered from
bushes along the way. Girls baked special cakes called 'Simnel Cakes'
for their mothers.
The tradition of Mothering Sunday stopped with the advent of Industrial
Revolution in England when the working conditions and life pattern
changed. Over the period of time one Sunday - 4th Sunday in Lent (3
weeks before Easter) was reserved in the honor of mothers. In the
present time, original meaning of Mothering Sunday has been lost and has
taken the form and name of Mothers Day in US.
Mother's Day Celebration in England
Mothers Day is celebrated in a big way in England. Children pay tribute
to their mothers and thank them for all their love and support. An
atmosphere of excitement prevail on the day and marketers make all
efforts to make big profits out of the euphoria. Flowers record their
maximum sale as people in England love to express their gratitude for
their mothers by gifting them flowers more than anything else. Most
popular flowers on Mothers Day in Great Britain are roses followed by
carnations and chrysanthemums. In UK, there is also a tradition of
making a rich almond cake for mothers called 'Mothering Cake' or 'Simnel
Cake' on Mothers Day
