Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day?

Mothering Sunday in the UK is different from Mother’s Day in other countries, not only in name but also as a moveable feast. I believe it is important to hold on to a name, so that we can identify with our roots and understand why we celebrate certain special days at different times each year.

Should Mothering Sunday be called Mother’s Day?
Should Christmas be called Xmas?
Should Easter be called Chocolate Egg Day?

Below is a comment left in our guestbook. .

“Mothering Sunday is the old-fashioned name and was the way it was known many years ago. On flowery greetings cards in the UK, you do still see Mothering Sunday quoted, but it’s mostly just Mother’s Day. “

Mothering Sunday is British and has been around longer than ‘ Mother’s Day’ in America. Like Boxing Day, there is a special reason why we call it Mothering Sunday.
You can find out why on our website
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/easter/mothers.htm

Should the British call it “Mothering Sunday” or should they adopt the American name “Mother’s Day” like they have adopted many other American words?

St Patrick’s Day 2008 has moved

I understand that they have moved St Patrick’s Day this year.

15th March: St Patrick’s Day. Yes 15th March.
The Roman Catholic Church has moved St Patrick’s Day this year, after discovering it clashes with a key day in the Church’s calendar, the second day of Holy Week.
RC Church rules decree the saint’s feast day does not rank as highly as the Monday before Easter and therefore it had to be moved two days back to March 15, which falls on a Saturday.

The last time St Patrick’s Day had to be moved was in 1940 when it coincided with Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week. The next date it will have to be moved again is 2160.

Regards.

Nancy Thorne

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