Me and my Mum Berry Road Widnes Lancs

Mother's Day

(Or Mothering Sunday)

The fourth Sunday in Lent as observed largely by Protestants and Catholics is something of an anomaly in the Christian liturgical calendar as it has been subsumed by the almost exclusively secular celebration of the maternal. 

Interestingly there is a socio-political aspect too, reflecting anachronistic vestiges of the old class system. Originally a festival of celebration of the approach of Easter and the end of Lent in which the fasting (sic) was about to cease and a call to attend and give thanks to 'Mother' church (hence Mothering Sunday) it seems to have been largely acknowledged that, perhaps from societal pressure, all household servants be given a day off to attend. Thus by circumstance almost inevitably seems to mean that such events resulted in working families meeting the remaining members of their family, as father's life expectancy amongst the poor and working classes meant he was often deceased, that servants should find they met up with their mothers upon such Sundays seemed inevitable. A flower bouquet for Mum quickly became a tradition. Hence it became known as a day of rejoicing and family celebration not afforded the working classes before. Over time this Victorian habit gave cause to people celebrating and giving thanks for the eternal, some might say elemental, aspect of the maternal. 

Happy Mother's Day!