Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day) Date in the current year: March 10, 2024

Mothering Sunday (Mother's Day) Mothering Sunday is a Christian holiday that is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent. It is observed by Catholic and Protestant Christians in some European countries. In the UK, Ireland and Nigeria it has recently been celebrated the same day as Mother's Day is celebrated in many countries.

Originally, Mothering Sunday was a religious holiday when people returned to their mother church, i.e. the main church of the area. It was first celebrated in the 16th century and was still popular in the beginning on the 19th century. However, after the Industrial Revolution its customs declined.

During the World War II, American soldiers brought the United States Mother's Day celebration to Europe. In the United Kingdom, secular traditions of Mother's Day merged with some revived traditions of Mothering Sunday. Two holidays, religious and secular, have now been mixed up, and many people think that Mothering Sunday and Mother's Day are the same thing.

For many people in the UK and Ireland, Mother's Day is the time to honor their mothers and give them flowers or chocolate. Religious traditions that have been preserved include baking and eating simnel cake which is also typically made for Easter.

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Religious Holidays, Other Observances

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Mothering Sunday, Mother's Day, religious holiday, secular holiday, holidays in the UK