Comments on Project Britain.com: Should Mothering Sunday be called Mothers Day?

I agree that it should be called Mothering Sunday....

2010-05-31T18:20:37.816+01:00

I agree that it should be called Mothering Sunday. This is not because I think the Christian tradition should be maintained but because, as some of the other posters have said, people who aren't mothers, or children without mothers, must feel really excluded on 'Mother's Day'. Mothering Sunday means that those involved in 'mothering' a child can be celebrated and thanked and any child without a mother can thank those who take that role in their life (and I believe there are very few children who have nobody who 'mothers' them.)

One of the Anony-mice, on the 22nd of March, wrote...

2010-05-03T13:29:46.890+01:00

One of the Anony-mice, on the 22nd of March, wrote of "that ghastly American clebration of Halloween".

I hope s/he meant the ghastly way in which Americans celebrate Hallowe'en, rather than trying to imply that Hallowe'en is not a native event.

Hallowe'en, or All-Hallows' Eve, or the eve of All-Saints' Day, has been continuously marked by festivities and events in many parts of the UK.

This has often been in places far from the Metropolitan media, and we are now being reverse-colonised by American traditions by our own media, principally childrens' telly, which is pushing out our own word-of-mouth traditions. Just like grey squirrels are pushing out our own native red squirrels.

Hallowe'en is ours, and always has been. If you object to the Americanisation of Hallowe'en, seek out the UK Hallowe'en traditions.

It seems to me that "mothering Sunday" i...

2010-03-20T14:34:29.722Z

It seems to me that "mothering Sunday" is a Christian tradition, that has become the British tradition that is "mothers' day". As a non-Christian, I feel it is necessary to be clear that the two things are different. I love mothers' day because it's good to do something nice for my mother, but I would feel hypocritical calling it mothering Sunday since I have no intention of following the Christian traditions that go with it! I have a similar thing about Christmas/xmas, and have no idea what to call Easter. I see these days as family days rather than religious festivals. That said, the comment above about apostrophes does sway me toward "mothering Sunday" more than I would like...

growing up in England, I have such fond memories o...

2010-03-15T01:35:18.262Z

growing up in England, I have such fond memories of going to the "woods" and finding wild violets, cutting catkins and pussy willow. We would hide our lovely bunches of flowers under the bed until morning. There was nothing commercial about it...just love for our Mum with a pure heart. Times were rough for us as a child (born after the war) but the wonderful traditions that we embraced will be with me forever. I now live in the U.S. and it is very commercialized and expensive. Fathers pay for gifts for their children to give to their Mothers instead of being creative and resourceful, handmade items made with tiny hands mean more to Mum than a $75 vase of roses.
Please, keeping "mothering Sunday" alive and well. If we don't, the next thing that will happen is children won't even be able to sing "knees up Mother Brown!".

This is interesting information regarding the trad...

2010-03-14T16:23:18.974Z

This is interesting information regarding the tradition and origin of Mothers' Day/Mothering Sunday. Thankyou.
What is the origin of Fathers' Day ?

Rob.

I think all you people getting your knickers in a ...

2010-03-14T00:58:46.840Z

I think all you people getting your knickers in a twist about the name Mothering Sunday need to loosen up a bit. Changing the name to mothers day would not destroy our culture or sense of national identity, neither would it be abandoning our Christian heritage. It would just be changing a flipping name, to one that most people use anyway. And if we changed the date as well at least it would be easier to remember when it was coming up. Harping on about the ancient history of the name Mothering Sunday and getting uptight about the possibility of changing it for a (God forbid) AMERICAN holiday is shockingly anally retentive behaviour about a topic of very little importance. Can we please save the outrage for something that matters for a change, Daily Mail readers?

Mothering Sunday as opposed to Mother's Sunday...

2010-03-13T13:20:38.974Z

Mothering Sunday as opposed to Mother's Sunday is more meaningful to the original meaning, history and reason for the celebration. Britain, being a Christian nation need to continue to embrace her culture and should uphold the need to honour all mothers and those who play motherhood roles in the society for their love and care as mothers in the society. Having the occasion as mothering rather than mother's day will allow also mothers, (though or may be without children) not to feel unappreciated and their labour of love seems unnoticed. Happy Mothering Sunday to all with mothering or motherhood roles!!! God Bless You All. Your are Mothers of all Nations.- Folu Omilaju

Mothering Sunday is the correct name for the 4 Sun...

2010-03-13T09:55:22.598Z

Mothering Sunday is the correct name for the 4 Sunday in Lent.The name Mother's day is an imported name from America whose Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May. Shame on the card companies who do not know this!¬

i think mothers day should be scrapped there are p...

2010-03-13T08:21:39.633Z

i think mothers day should be scrapped there are people with no mothers ,who must feel terrible at this time of year

Mary '08 I totally agree with all those in fav...

2010-03-12T18:06:06.389Z

Mary '08
I totally agree with all those in favour of recognizing that it is Mothering Sunday on the forth Sunday of Lent.When I was an Infant teacher the children (not kids) had a wonderful time making cards and a class Semnel cake, which was shared and given to their mums at a special assembly. Some mums,I know still treasure those cards!
My own daughters always search for 'Mothering' Sunday cards!!

we should keep mothering sundays as a tribute to o...

2010-03-12T06:26:28.607Z

we should keep mothering sundays as a tribute to our mothers who for years raise us.

I am surprised that no one noticed the connection ...

2010-03-11T01:42:28.522Z

I am surprised that no one noticed the connection between Mothering Sunday and the Epistle for the Fourth Sunday in Lent in the Book of Common Prayer. May I quote: "But Jerusalem which is above is free : which is the mother of us all." What it is pointing out is that as Christians, the Church, as the heavenly Jerusalem, is our Mother. People were encouraged to return to their mother parish, that is to the one in which they were baptized, as a recognition of that fact. Since in much earlier times very few people ever went very far from that place where they were born and baptized, it was also a time to visit their earthly mother and family. Hence the need for celebratory food.

Mothering Sunday is part of the Christian Churches...

2010-03-10T23:24:54.495Z

Mothering Sunday is part of the Christian Churches calendar, it should remain as Mothering Sunday not become Mother's Day.
It is also important that 'Christ' isn't taken out of Christmas - there is no celebration without him!

I spend ages each year looking for cards that have...

2010-03-10T20:32:05.823Z

I spend ages each year looking for cards that have 'Mothering Sunday' on them as my Mother really objects to it being known as Mother's Day! It is getting more and more difficult each year though! :)

I feel very strongly that we should keep the Mothe...

2010-03-10T18:29:50.529Z

I feel very strongly that we should keep the Mothering Sunday tradition and not fall in to the American way. If we are not careful we will be celebrating the 4th of July next! We need to keep our own identity. My boys know I will not accept a Mothers day card, Mothering Sunday cards can still be bought - I won't be buying 9th of May cards for a Mid Lent celebration.

It would be a shame to loose the cultural context ...

2010-03-10T01:08:36.965Z

It would be a shame to loose the cultural context of the name Mothering. I live in the United States and Mother's Day is in May. Yes, we are still celebrating mothers but in my culture (Hispanic American) we celebrate at that time because it is the month we celebrate Mary, the Blessed Virgin and Mother of Christ. I say shame on the folks who are trying to homogenize these long established traditions.
P.S. Those wanting Mothering rather than Mother's Day on their cards might try making/printing them at home. Most mamma's like home made anyway. :-)

Perhaps we could start a Keep Mothering Sunday cam...

2010-03-05T11:20:46.786Z

Perhaps we could start a Keep Mothering Sunday campaign with the card manufacturers. Of course we should keep our traditions alive here, whether or not we go to church. Incidentally our church still makes posies for all the women in the church and the children take extra home for those who could not come. I have often seen posies being put on graves of mothers and grandmothers.......

I think we ought to start a campain to keep Mother...

2010-03-01T15:27:30.852Z

I think we ought to start a campain to keep Mothering Sunday. Although I don't have a mother any more I have two women in my life who I am very close to, as they helped shape my life. I send them cards on Mothering Sunday, which say "Happy Mothering Sunday". Each year there get harder to find, what a shame. Also I remember when my girls attended Sunday school, they made posies for all the women in the church whether or not they were mother's or not,as most women have connections to children, either as auntie's,godmother's,stepmother's or even house mother's in a boarding school. So please,please don't get rid of Mothering Sunday in Britain....if the America's want to change to Mother's Day let them, but this is not the US!!

I am from the US, and I think that Mothering Sunda...

2010-02-26T00:45:46.584Z

I am from the US, and I think that Mothering Sunday should remain as it is. I think the history behind it makes it a lot more special than just "Mother's Day".... Don't switch the name simply because in America it is different. Embrace the differences and appreciate what you have. I in fact, wouldn't mind celebrating Mothering Day!

Our family has always called it Mothering Sunday a...

2010-02-24T19:55:44.997Z

Our family has always called it Mothering Sunday and I'm nearly 60 so don't intend to change now. The Americans can call it what they like - I'm not interested.

Diane

I think that Mothering Sunday should remain as suc...

2010-01-21T15:53:21.115Z

I think that Mothering Sunday should remain as such; the Americans and other countries can do what is best for them, I believe we should not call it Mother's Day!

Just mother your mother on that special day, whate...

2010-01-06T20:46:31.808Z

Just mother your mother on that special day, whatever day it falls on in the country you live in.
And there are Christians in the UK.
Best wishes
Ali

I'm a Muslim, my mother is a Christian. Regar...

2009-06-18T21:24:56.704+01:00

I'm a Muslim, my mother is a Christian. Regardless of our different religions, I participate in Mothering Sunday because it makes my mother feel extremely special.

The debate about multiculturalism stems from the failure to understand the commonalities between people, rather than focusing on the differences. In most orthodox, monotheistic, religions mothers are revered therefore the resonance of Mothering Sunday is understood by many non-Christians too.

Ironically, as a single mother, I get very emotional when my daughter brings home hand made Mother's Day (yes inevitably) cards from school. That and a few daffodils held together by an elastic band is enough.

'Mothering Sunday' should be more vigorously promoted and its roots and simple traditions preserved rather than giving into the cynical commercialism of 'Mother's Day'.

(Fantastic website!)

I live in Australia now and we follow the American...

2009-04-10T04:04:00.000+01:00

I live in Australia now and we follow the American Mothers' Day. I do miss the more gentle Mothering Sunday I grew up with.
When I was in Britain last year for a prolonged visit, I was appalled to see how anti-Christianity the country has become. Though I agree that it is wrong to force one's beliefs onto another, the refusal to allow public celebration of Christian festivals and forcing everyone to celebrate them as non-Christian, commercial festivities destroys them. It appears that it is okay to belong to any religion and expect others to respect your beliefs, as long as you are not Christian. What were genuine religious festivals have had all religious meaning stripped from them and they become an empty, money grabbing shells of what they once were. Although I would love Mothering Sunday to continue, with the current socio-political climate in Britain, I fear it will disapear.

I live in America, so Mum said that she had two sp...

2009-03-24T04:57:00.000Z

I live in America, so Mum said that she had two special days -- Mothering Sunday, from my sister and Mother's Day from me! Mothering Sunday was more suitable for our Mum, because I was flying home for her death on Mother's Day.
I'd love to spend one more day with her -- whatever the name of the day.