Mother's Day 2019: What is Mothering Sunday? When is it in the UK?

Many mums and maternal figures will be presented with cards and gifts as they wake up on Mothering Sunday. Mothering Sunday is the day when we say thanks to our mums for all their hard work and amazing support all year round. This year’s Mother’s Day is on Sunday, March 31 in the UK. The date is always held three weeks before Easter Sunday.

Not everyone country celebrates the holiday on the same date, however.

Australia, Canada and the United States all mark Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May.

What is Mothering Sunday?

Mothering Sunday was originally honoured as a Christian tradition when adults would return home from their workplaces to their childhood church parishes.

Many people who had left home at the time were often working as domestic servants.

On their day off, it became customary for them to return home with a gift for their mother from their employer.

In turn, the celebration became a general day in which to celebrate mothers or maternal figures and now ties in with the fourth weekend of Lent every year.

The custom waned for a little while in some parts of Europe but in the early 20th century was revived by two women on either side of the Atlantic.

Anna Jarvis in the United States and Constance Penswick-Smith in the UK, are both credited with creating the Mothering Sunday Movement.

The practice became commonplace after being adopted by American and Canadian soldiers during World War 2.

Mothering Sunday is now considered to be the day when the mothers of children are celebrated.

The day is not a public holiday in the UK but it is one of the most commercial dates in the calendar.

Mother’s Day spending is expected to rise by 0.8 percent to £1.6 billion this year, according to a survey by GlobalData.

Some of the most popular ways people will express their thanks will be by getting a card, flowers or chocolates.

But some people may choose to splash out on an afternoon tea or spa treatment.

However, you say it, do not forget to give your mum or maternal figure in your life a call.

And remember the clocks go forward on Saturday night meaning you have one less hour to do it on Sunday.

source: express.co.uk