Mother's Day. Where did it begin?

Anyone who has a Mother, and I imagine that is most people, will be aware that Mother's Day is nearly here.  It's on the 3rd April this year, but it got me wondering.....where did it all begin?

In the UK it is traditionally called Mothering Sunday, but over time we have adopted the term used in other countries, Mother's Day.

It's a day when children honour their mum's usually with gifts and cards and often with gestures of lightening mum's normal workload with breakfast in bed or a meal out somewhere special.  It is on a different date each year as it is tied in with Lent and is on the fourth Sunday of Lent and has been celebrated in the UK since at least the 16th Century!!

But where it actually started seems to be somewhat of a debatable subject.

Some think the celebration could have been adopted from a Roman Spring festival celebrating Cybele, their Mother Goddess.

Another theory is that as Christianity spread, the date was adopted by Christians. It is known on this date, about four hundred years ago, people made a point of visiting their nearest big church (the Mother Church). This would have been the church in which each person was baptised and they were said to have gone "mothering" which may have prompted the customs we still see today.

In days gone by, girls and boys in service, maids and servants at the local Manor House or Mansion, were only allowed to visit their families on one day each year. This was usually on Mothering Sunday.

This could be a significant journey since their mothers may have lived some distance away, even in another town altogether. Often the housekeeper or cook would allow the maids to bake a cake to take home for their mother. Sometimes a gift of eggs or flowers from the garden (or hothouse) were allowed.

In recent times Mothering Sunday has in Britain taken on the name and character of the US Mother's Day. The original meaning of Mothering Sunday is often unknown, but hopefully now you know where it comes from.

It is a wonderful day, and every mother deserves to be honoured on Mother's Day.

Why not, while you're here, check out our fabulous range of Personalised Mother's Day gifts to give your mum a real treat this year.

We love mum's :)