Our Mother's Day
Mothering Sunday an ancient celebration The origin of Mother’s Day go back to the ancient Greek and Romans.
Historically, churchgoers worshipped on Sundays at their nearest parish, known as their ‘daughter’ church. Centuries ago it was deemed important for people to return to their home or ‘mother’ church once a year.
The Greeks held an annual spring festival and used the occasion to honour Rhea, wife of Cronus and the mother of many deities of Greek mythology.
The return to the ‘mother’ church became an occasion for family reunions. Its a popular belief that this return is what led to the tradition of Mothering Sunday.
Ancient Romans, too, celebrated a spring festival, called Hilaria dedicated to Cybele, a mother goddess. The celebration lasted for three days and included parades and games.
The custom of celebrating Mothering Sunday died out almost completely by the 19th century. However, was celebrated again after World War II, when American servicemen brought the custom and commercial enterprises used it as an occasion for sales.
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent and this year falls on 27th March. Its often referred to as Mothers’ Day, but that is in fact, a completely different American festival celebrated at a different time of year.
Today this special day, commercial or not, is a chance to reflect and give thanks to our mothers and is a particularly poignant time to remember loved ones no longer with us.
Traditionally, it was a day when employees, who were staying away from home, such as domestic servants, were given a day off and encouraged to visit their mother and family. 43
