The History and Origin of Mothering Sunday

Laetare Day, the Mother Church, Simnel Cakes and Mother’s Day

Feb 23, 2009

Mothering Sunday is also known as Laetare Sunday, and falls during the Christian festival of Lent. Mother's Day is celebrated in May and does not have religious origins.

Mothering Sunday and Mother’s Day are days on which it is traditional for people to shower their mothers with cards and gifts, in order to show them how much they are valued and appreciated. Both of these days share the sentiment of celebrating and honouring motherhood, but have different histories. Mothering Sunday is a British tradition, and like other traditional days, such as Pancake Day, has its origin in religion. Mother's Day is celebrated in the United States and Canada, and is about one woman’s crusade.

The History of Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday falls on the fourth Sunday of the Christian festival of Lent, known as Laetare Sunday. The exact origin of Mothering Sunday is unclear, but the general consensus among historians is that it stems from sixteenth century churchgoers visiting their "mother church" on this day. The mother church was the largest church or cathedral in their area.

It was considered important for Christian churchgoers to visit their mother church on Laetare Sunday, instead of the local "daughter" church they would usually attend for regular Sunday service. This was referred to as to go "a mothering". It is believed that on this day, because of the importance of visiting the mother church, young household servants, who worked away from home, were released from their duties and allowed to visit their mothers. They were reunited temporarily with their families, and would take their mothers gifts such as wild flowers they had picked.

Historically, other names for Mothering Sunday included Refreshment Sunday, Mid-Lent Sunday, Rose Sunday and Simnel Sunday. It was traditional to bake and eat Simnel cakes on this day, allowing people an opportunity to temporarily indulge in some of the rich food they had given up for Lent.

The History of Mother’s Day

In the United States and Canada, Mother’s Day is observed on the second Sunday in May. The tradition began as a result of a campaign in the early twentieth century by an American woman, named Anna Marie Jarvis (now known as the founder of Mother’s Day), who wanted to honour the anniversary of her own mother’s death on 9th May 1905, and celebrate her life. She did so with a small memorial service in May 1907.

Jarvis and her supporters spent several years fighting for national recognition of a day to honour and celebrate mothers and motherhood. The first ever official Mother’s Day service was held in a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia, on 10th May, 1908. Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson announced there would be an official Mother’s Day holiday every year on the second Sunday of May.

Mothering Sunday Dates UK

The date of Mothering Sunday varies each year depending on when Lent and Easter falls.

Mother’s Day Dates US and Canada

Mothering Sunday and Mother’s Day share different histories, but it has become commonplace in modern day Britain to refer to Mothering Sunday as Mother’s Day.

The copyright of the article The History and Origin of Mothering Sunday in Holiday Entertaining is owned by Sharon Kirby. Permission to republish The History and Origin of Mothering Sunday in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.