The History and Origins of Mothering Sunday in the UK
Mothering Sunday, also known as Mother’s Day, is an annual holiday used to demonstrate love, gratitude, and appreciation for mothers across the UK. Traditionally, this is done through the giving of gifts and quality time spent together.
Whilst Mothering Sunday is a widely celebrated holiday, very few people know the origins of the day. Read on to discover the true history behind Mothering Sunday and to gain a deeper understanding of exactly why this celebration has lived on for so long and until the present day.
The Origins of Mothering Sunday: When Was the First Mothering Sunday?
The first iterations of Mothering Sunday date back as far as the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome. In Greece, Rhea was celebrated whereas in Rome, Cybele was celebrated. Both were viewed as the Mother of the Gods and were celebrated every spring with festivals of worship that included parades, feasts, and offerings.
Mothering Sunday then made its way over to the UK and Ireland in the 16th century where the holiday was, and still is, typically celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent. The exact date is determined by the Lunar Calendar.
The History of Mothering Sunday: How Did Mothering Sunday Come About in the UK?
Mothering Sunday, like many annually celebrated holidays, has religious roots. In the Middle Ages, Mothering Sunday was a day dedicated to the Virgin Mary, also known as Mother Mary, which required people to visit their mother church. There are various definitions of what a mother church was, but most accounts state it was the main church in a family’s local area or the church where the family members were baptised.
During the Middle Ages, children as young as ten years old would leave their family home to work, whether that be tending farms, working in kitchens, or serving houses as housemaids or valets.
Mothering Sunday became a unique opportunity for families; everyone would take the day off work, with children who had moved away for work returning home, and all family members would meet up again and spend quality time together after having spent long periods of time apart. Children would often take home a handmade gift with them for their mother, or pick flowers for her on their way to church.
How Has Mothering Sunday Changed Over Time?
Whilst Mothering Sunday was traditionally a religious holiday, today’s celebrations in the UK have become a more secular celebration of the mother figures in our lives, following more closely the version of Mothering Sunday that has been celebrated in the US since 1907.
A US woman named Anna Jarvis held a small memorial service for her mother on 12 May 1907. This started a movement of people observing the day as Mother’s Day, and the US President made it a national holiday in 1914. In the US, the day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May.
Ways to Celebrate Mothering Sunday in 2025
Gift Giving
Nowadays, Mothering Sunday in the UK is often celebrated through gift giving. Harping back to the tradition of children picking flowers for their mother on their way to church, popular gift choices are often nature-inspired such as flowers and potted plants, and for good reason: they are beautiful, long lasting, environmentally friendly, and sure to bring a smile to the mother in your life.
Other common gift choices include boxes of chocolate or biscuits, home baked goods, spa and beauty treatments, and jewellery.
Quality Time
Just as the holiday was celebrated hundreds of years ago, it is common for families to travel to their mother from near or far to spend quality time with them on Mothering Sunday in the UK. This time may be spent going out for a meal, taking a trip to the beach, or simply spending time relaxing and catching up at home together.
