Mothers Day Around the World
By Mandy Barrow
Hello everyone! Today we’re going to talk about a very special day dedicated to mothers. Around the world, people celebrate their mums, grandmas, and other important female figures in their lives. While the idea is the same – to show love and appreciation – the dates and traditions can be quite different! Let’s start by looking at how we celebrate it here in Britain.
Mothering Sunday in Britain: A Bit of History
In Britain, we celebrate what is traditionally known as “Mothering Sunday.” You might think it’s always been about giving cards and flowers to your mum, but its history is actually much older and a little different!
Mothering Sunday began way back in the 16th century. It wasn’t originally about celebrating mothers in the way we do today. Instead, it was a day when people, especially servants and apprentices who often lived away from home, would return to their ‘mother church’ – the main church or cathedral in their area, or the church where they were baptised. It was a special day during Lent, the period of fasting before Easter.
On this day, they were given time off to visit their families and attend their mother church. This was often the only day in the year when whole families could gather together. As they travelled, children would often pick wildflowers from the verges to take to their mother church or to their own mothers.
A special cake called a Simnel cake was also traditionally baked for Mothering Sunday. This fruit cake, topped with eleven balls of marzipan (representing the eleven faithful apostles, not including Judas), was a treat during Lent when people usually gave up rich foods. It was a delicious way to break the Lenten fast for a day and celebrate being with family.
Over time, the tradition of visiting the ‘mother church’ faded, but the idea of it being a day for families to reunite and for children to honour their mothers grew. After the Second World War, the British Mothering Sunday also started to be influenced by the American Mother’s Day, which helped shape it into the celebration we know today.
Modern Mothering Sunday Celebrations
Today, Mothering Sunday in Britain is a wonderful day to show our mums how much we care. It still takes place on the fourth Sunday of Lent, which means the date changes each year. It’s a day for spoiling mothers and making them feel extra special.
Children often make handmade cards or buy beautiful ones. Flowers, especially daffodils or other bright spring flowers, are popular gifts. Many children love to prepare breakfast in bed for their mums or help cook a special family meal. It’s a day to say “thank you” for all the hard work and love mothers give throughout the year.
Mother’s Day Around the World
While we in Britain have our unique Mothering Sunday, many other countries also celebrate a version of Mother’s Day. The dates and customs can be quite different, showing the rich variety of cultures across our planet. Here are just a few examples:
| Country |
Date of Celebration |
Common Traditions |
| United States |
Second Sunday in May |
Cards, flowers (especially carnations), gifts, family meals. |
Written by Mandy Barrow
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Special Days in December
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Learn about Christmas in England from the children who live in Britain Christmas traditions why do what we do at chrsitmas time
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All Year Round
Facts, Folklore, Superstitions, Festivals and Special Days for each month of the Year. Includes an list of anniversaries for each month. |
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National Awareness Days Calendar
Many charities and other organisations have special days and weeks like 'The Big Hush' or Children in Need. Find out what event is happening this month/year and when. |
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Multi faith Calendar
World Religions Calendar
A colourful month by month list of all the main religious festivals. |
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"I am British but now living in the US. I needed to know when Mothers' Day is in the UK. (In the USA it is always in May. In 2007 it is on May 13 this year. I didn't want my mother to think I had forgotten her - in March! Now she'll get two cards - one in March and one in May but she deserves to be applauded twice!"
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All the materials on these pages are free for homework and classroom use only. You may not redistribute, sell or place the content of this page on any other website or blog without written permission from the . |
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is the creator of the Woodlands Resources section of the Woodlands Junior website.
The two websites projectbritain.com and primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk are the new homes for the Woodlands Resources.
left Woodlands in 2003 to work in Kent schools as an ICT Consulatant.
She now teaches computers at The Granville School and St. John's Primary School in Sevenoaks Kent.
Woodlands Junior Homework Help new website
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