In honour of this precious occasion, let’s take a look at the history of Mother’s Day—why it’s celebrated in March in the UK, while many other countries mark the occasion in May.
In the UK, Mother’s Day—also known as Mothering Sunday—falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter. Its origins date back centuries to a Christian tradition where people returned to their “mother church” (the main church in their hometown) for a special service. This pilgrimage became known as Mothering Sunday, a day when families reunited and children, often working as domestic servants, were given a rare day off to visit home and spend time with their mothers.
As part of the tradition, children would pick wildflowers along the way to church, which later evolved into the custom of giving mothers flowers and small gifts—a practice that continues today.
By the early 20th century, Mothering Sunday had begun to decline in popularity, but during World War II, American and British soldiers stationed in the UK helped to revive it, blending it with the more commercialised version of Mother’s Day celebrated in the United States.
Unlike the UK’s religious roots, Mother’s Day in the United States was officially established by Anna Jarvis in the early 1900s. After her mother’s passing, she campaigned for a national day to honour mothers, leading to President Woodrow Wilson declaring the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914.
This May celebration quickly spread to other countries, including Canada, Australia, Germany, Japan, and many others, which adopted the American date rather than the UK’s March observance.
While Mother’s Day falls on different days across the world, its heartwarming purpose remains the same—to celebrate and appreciate the incredible women who nurture, support, and love unconditionally. Whether you’re marking the occasion in March or May, it’s a wonderful reminder to cherish the mothers and mother figures in our lives.
So, no matter when you celebrate, take a moment to say thank you, give a warm hug, or share a special gesture of love—after all, every day should be Mother’s Day! 💕🌿
Want to learn more? Check out this link for further reading: BBC – The history of Mothering Sunday
🌿What will you be doing for this special day? Please share your fun in the comments below 💬
Mood Song: Spice Girls – Mama
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