There are no excuses for not knowing what’s happening on Sunday 15th March.
Aside from the fact that Mother’s Day occurs every year on the fourth Sunday of Lent, you can’t fail to notice the numerous shop window displays, television adverts and emails landing in your inbox, all trying to persuade you to spend your money on their ‘perfect Mother’s Day gifts’.
Mother’s Day is celebrated in many countries across the world though it originated in the UK which dedicated its first day to mother’s in the 17th century – known then as Mothering Sunday. This was a time when people returned to the church in which they were baptised, or where they attended services when they were children, to be reunited with old friends and family. Later, when the children of poorer families were sent to work for the rich, Mother’s Day became an occasion when those children working away from their families were allowed to return home to visit.
Mother’s Day falls on different days in different places around the world. Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada and India all celebrate it on the second Sunday in May. In the USA, the event was only established around one hundred years ago in 1904. In 1910 it became recognised as a national holiday – a day when mothers and their children spend the day together. It is now heavily commercialised and it’s the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States.
According to Forbes the things we spend most money on for Mother’s Day are a meal out, jewellery, flowers, gift cards and clothing – no real surprises there then.
Whatever your plans, you can be sure Mum will be more than happy with a phone call (if you live too far apart to visit), or a big hug, and perhaps a nice cup of tea (especially if you wash the mug up afterwards!).