Mother's Day in the UK (Mother's Day or Mothering Sunday), which is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, is similar to March 8 in Russia.
Its roots go back to Victorian times, when children worked far from home at a fairly early age, and the money they earned was sent to the family budget. Then children were allowed to spend one day a year at home with their parents. They usually brought mothers and grandmothers small gifts — bouquets of flowers or fresh eggs. Today, British children give flowers to their mothers on this day and do their homework for them.
The earliest honours of the mother have their roots in an ancient Greek spring festival in honor of the goddess Rae, wife of the god Kronos and mother of numerous gods and goddesses. And around 250 BC, ceremonies began to be held in Rome praising another mother goddess named Cybele. These religious Roman celebrations lasted three days — from March 15 to 18.
At the very beginning of the 17th century in England, on the fourth Sunday of Lent, people began to celebrate Mother's Sunday. It was a celebration of all the mothers of England. As Christianity spread in Europe, this Sunday became the holiday of the Mother of the Church — of spiritual power that gives life and protects against evil.
Over time, the church holiday merged with the secular holiday. Since this was the time of wealthy aristocrats and huge mansions, most of the servants worked and lived in the houses of their owners. On Sunday, mothers all servants received a day off; they returned to their families to spend that day with their mothers. A special cake called «mother cake» gave this day a festive atmosphere. On this day, it was supposed to visit mothers and bring them such a cake as a gift in exchange for their mother’s blessing.
Such cakes and pastries were baked and sold in England and France on Sundays during Lent. In France, cakes decorated with a cross made of sugar glaze were more often baked according to this recipe.
Sometimes husbands take their wives to restaurants on this day to celebrate the event. Children give flowers, postcards and other gifts to mothers. You should definitely congratulate your mother, and no matter what part of the world your daughters and sons are in that day, they will call their only and dear ones and send them a postcard, letter or email on Mother’s Day.
Even if you don't live in England, write or call your parents!