MAIN Holidays US Mother's Day Mothers Day in the UK 2024

Mother's Day in the UK is a time to celebrate with special remembrances in e-mails, long-distance phone calls, a special serving of breakfast in bed, or a dinner out, along with flowers and greeting cards.

Traditionally observed on the 4th Sunday of Lent, Mother's Day in the UK is celebrated this year on Sunday, March 10, 2024

Celebrating Mother's Day in the UK

The modern version of "Mothering Sunday" has its roots in the tradition of allowing domestic help a special day off each year to visit home, mother and family. The tradition dates back to the early 19th century, although there's evidence that the Mothering Sunday tradition dates back even further.

The fruit-filled Simnel cake (which is now commonly served at Easter), was a long-held tradition on Mothering Sunday as expressed in this poem dating to the 17th century:

I'le to thee a Simnell bring,
Gainst thou go'st a mothering,
So that, when she blesseth thee,
Half that blessing thou'lt give me.

The holiday is celebrated in much the same way as Mother's Day in the US, and Mothering Sunday has become more widely referred to in the UK simply as "Mothers Day" as kids make Mother''s Day crafts or present a bunch of Mother's Day flowers in her honor.

Just up ahead, discover more online resources featuring e-cards, gifts, flowers and cyber treats, poems and quotes, along with more of the history, traditions, trivia and fun facts associated with Mother's Day in the UK ...

DID YOU KNOW? Mother's Day in the UK fun facts

The most popular flowers for Mother's Day in the UK : Roses, followed by carnations and chrysanthemums.

• Mothering Sunday was celebrated in England as early as the 17th century, making it the first country in the world to have a special day to honor mothers.

• In the old days, Mothering Sunday was also known as Refreshment Sunday because the fasting rules for Lent were relaxed on that day.

• Mothering Sunday came back into popular favor in the 20th century after a campaign was launched in 1913 by Constance Smith, a vicar's daughter from Nottinghamshire. She was inspired to start the Mothering Day Movement after reading an article on a similar campaign to celebrate mothers in the US.

• In the UK, phone calls home to wish mum a Happy Mothers Day have been decreasing year by year as more people turn to video call apps and social media.

• The most popular flowers on Mothers Day in Great Britain are roses, followed by carnations and chrysanthemums.

More about Mother's Day in the UK around the Web:

BBC - Religion & Ethics - Mothering Sunday - A deep dig into the tradition of the day before the 19th century, when the faithful were required to visit their town's "mother church" at least once a year, eventually growing into the yearly celebration now honoring mothers everywhere.

Mother's Day Crafts - Check out wonderful, kid-friendly ideas for honoring mothers with complete, illustrated instructions for hand-made greeting cards, tissue-paper flowers, pretend stained glass, and lots more.