The history behind Mother's Day and how to celebrate like the Brits

This Sunday, March 27, is Mother's Day, where we take our Mummies very seriously! Here's how, and why, we celebrate.

The British Mum, or Mumsie (as we're sure most hate being called), is iconic. We all hold an image of the British Mum in our minds from literature, movies and TV shows. Of course, the British Mum also brought us the day of celebrating Mother's Day or Mothering Sundays.

The history of Mothering Sunday

Mother's Day in the United Kingdom and Ireland is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare Sunday, Mid-Lent Sunday or Refreshment Sunday. In the United States, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.

The history of celebrating Mother's Day can be traced to medieval times when children from poor families were sent to work as domestic servants and apprentices in rich homes.

Once a year, in the middle of Lent, the children were given one day off to visit their 'Mother Church' and worship the Virgin Mary at special masses which would be held in honor of Mary, the Mother of Christ.

After visiting the Mother Church or Cathedral of their hometown, these children visited their mothers and presented them with flowers they picked along the way.

The practice died out in Ireland around the late 18th century but was revived - with help from the Americans - after World War II.

Modern Mother's Day

Today, it’s modernised much in the same way as it is in the US with flowers, gifts and special meals.

Many British still stick to traditions, however, and they are:

- The mother gets to stay in bed and is given breakfast there by her adoring children.

- Bring flowers of the fairest, bring flowers of the rarest, as the old hymn goes.

- She is allowed to pick her favorite restaurant, no surprises like for her birthday

- If there are young babies involved, Dad takes over the chores of diapers etc. 

- In the old days, a trip to "the cinema" was considered a great treat.

- Mothers often gather together for a coffee for a good old gossip 

- Kids are dressed in Sunday best.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mum from British Heritage Travel!