by Annerleigh Harrison

Created on: May 19, 2009   Last Updated: May 21, 2009

Mothering Sunday in the UK is not quite the same as Mothers Day in the USA, even though the two celebrations now carry the same sentiments and rituals. The story of Mothering Sunday in Britain dates back several hundred years, at least to the 16th century, and originally had more to do with the Church than with much-loved mums.

Mothers, and motherhood, have of course always been honoured and celebrated. The most ancient religions known to us worshiped the Mother Goddess in some form or other. In Ancient Rome, there was an annual festival known as the Matronalia, held in June, which specifically honoured the Materfamilia mother of the household and Roman mothers were given gifts by their husbands and children. Later, when the Christian religion held sway over Europe, Mary the Mother of Christ was venerated, and everyone understood that 'Mother Church' was an organisation given by God to symbolise His love and to nurture and support the community on earth, both spiritually and materially.

In medieval times, and right up till the early 18th century, European culture and society were overwhelmingly Christian. The Church calendar, with its fasts and festivals, dominated all aspects of life, and the pre-Easter period of Lent was almost universally observed. It was a time of fasting and contemplation, penitence and self-denial, that lasted six weeks ( echoing Christ's forty days and nights in the wilderness.) Meat, eggs, any rich or fatty food, as well as weddings, sex, and any kind of celebration, were all banned for the duration

But, there was one day of exception. On the fourth Sunday of Lent ( roughly 3 weeks before Easter, and mid-way through the Lenten period the calendar date varying with that of Easter), in recognition of Christ's feeding of the 5000, the Church allowed a day of festivity. Decent grub, weddings, and some jollity were back on the menu for this one day. ( No-one is sure about the sex.) Not surprisingly, the day was called 'Mid-Lenten Sunday' or, very appropriately, 'Refreshment Sunday'.

On this Sunday morning, all who could would travel to their local cathedral, the Mother Church of their diocese, for a service celebrating Mary the Mother of Jesus and the 'mothering' role of the church in society. The outing probably became quite a fun community junket. Those unable to make the trip would attend their local parish church, in formal recognition of how it had nurtured and 'mothered' them. These festive attendances were called

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