January 2017 Web

Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day?
Since the 17th century young people who lived and
worked away from home, were allowed to return home
on the fourth Sunday in Lent to visit their families.
Apprentices, farm workers and servants often began
work at a very early age and were required to “live in”
often far from their families. It is suggested that the
youngsters picked flowers, especially primroses, on
their way home hence the practice of flower giving
today.
Northern families ate fig pie washed down with spiced
ale as the visits were celebrated with a meal for all the
family. Poorer families ate wheat grain soaked in milk
and cinnamon. Simnel cake too had a long association
with the day as far back as 1648.
Mother’s Day, the commercialised event mostly
celebrated today, began in the U.S.A. in 1914 and in
1916 it was suggested it be introduced into Britain. The
custom lasted only four years. Mothering Day too began
to die out in the 1930’s but just about existed side by
side with a re-introduced Mother’s Day after the Second
World War. Mothering Sunday, a simpler celebration is
observed especially in the Church of England where
congregations are encouraged to think of “Mother
Church”.
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