Just wanted to wish the European org Mom's (Mum's) a very happy Mother's Day on Sunday.





Mothering Sunday is a Christian festival celebrated throughout Europe. Secularly it became a celebration of motherhood.[1] It is increasingly being called Mother's Day, although that other holiday has a completely different origin.[1] In the UK it is considered synonymous with Mother's Day as celebrated in other countries.

A religious festival celebrating motherhood has been existent in Europe since neolithic times. In the Roman religion the festival was in honour of the mother goddess Cybele and it took place during mid-March. As the Roman Empire and Europe converted to Christianity, Mothering Sunday celebrations became part of the liturgical calendar as Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent to honour the Virgin Mary and the "mother church"[2].

During the sixteenth century, people returned to their mother church for a service to be held on Laetare Sunday. This was either a large local church, or more often the nearest Cathedral.[1] Anyone who did this was commonly said to have gone "a-mothering", although whether this preceded the term Mothering Sunday is unclear. It was often the only time that whole families could gather together, if prevented by conflicting working hours.

The Epistle for the fourth Sunday in Lent as set out in the Book of Common Prayer gives a special place to the theme of maternal love: Galatians 4:26 states that "Jerusalem which is above is free; which is Mother of us all."

The other names attributed to this festival include Simnel Sunday, Refreshment Sunday and Rose Sunday. Simnel Sunday is named after the practice of baking Simnel cakes to celebrate the reuniting of families during the austerity of Lent. Because there is traditionally a lightening of Lenten vows on this particular Sunday in celebration of the fellowship of family and church, the lesser-used label of Refreshment Sunday is also used, although rarely today.

Rose Sunday is sometimes used as an alternative title for Mothering Sunday as well, as is witnessed by the purple robes of Lent being replaced in some churches by rose-coloured ones. This title refers to the tradition of posies of flowers being collected and distributed at the service originally to all the mothers, but latterly to all women in the congregation.[citation needed] The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia, however, asserts that "the Golden Rose, sent by the Popes to Catholic sovereigns, used to be blessed at this time, and for this reason the day was sometimes called 'Dominica de Rosa'."[3][4]

This Sunday was also once known as "the Sunday of the Five Loaves", from the traditional Gospel reading for the day. Prior to the adoption of the modern "common" lectionaries, the Gospel reading for this Sunday in the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Western-Rite Orthodox, and Old Catholic churches was the story of the feeding of the five thousand (for instance, the Anglican Book of Common Prayer stipulates St John's Gospel 6:5-14).

Another tradition associated with Mothering Sunday is the practice of "clipping the church", whereby the congregation form a ring around their church building and, holding hands, embrace it.

For some Church of England churches, it is the only day in Lent when marriages can be celebrated.

In later times, Mothering Sunday became a day when domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mothers and other family members.

Mothering Sunday remains in the calendar of some Canadian Anglican churches, particularly those with strong English connections.








A holiday that I thought I would never celebrate. I get to celebrate it twice, once in March and once in May.

[Edited 3/15/10 1:21am]

This is why I've had take time off work to get my coursework done. I was counting on this wknd. Thanks Mum.

Happy Mother's day to you Valory and all the other org mothers !

Thinking of MrsGoodnight especially!

MrsMdiver said:

Awww, Val - you made me cry!!!

Thank you,

It's your very first Mother's Day, how exciting! I hope that lovely husband of yours spoils you rotten, on behalf of that BEAUTIFUL little boy of yours

MrsGoodnight said:

I am just stoked that I get to celebrate it twice. I am sure my mom will send me a card from the states in May.

I am going to spend my first day away from the little man tomorrow. The longest I have left his is 4 hrs once.
So tomorrow is making me nervous. Though my mother in law is watching him, she will be fine.
She has 4 kids and 5 grandkids so she has plenty of practice.
Hubby and I are going to Crufts Dog Show tomorrow. A long journey there though.
Hope I do not spend the day worrying/thinking about Jr.



How is Elsa doing?

MrsMdiver said:

Oh? The one at the NEC in Birmingham? I live about 45 minutes from there. Make sure you put some comfy shoes on, that place is HUGE! I know it's easy for me to say, but don't worry about him - it'll do you both the world of good to spend a litte bit of time apart (and he gets to be spoilt rotten by his nanna!) I found it difficult to spend time apart from my 2 in the beginning - now there are days that I could happily palm them off onto any passing stranger! Just relax and enjoy yourselves - Remember; A happy mummy and daddy, make a happy baby!

Elsa is slowly getting better, thank you. Her breathing is easier and her cough has calmed down. Plus, she's finished her penicillin (Thank GOD! I really hated having to sit on her to force her to take it). I sent you an orgnote with the long winded version of my reply!

MrsGoodnight said:

Glad to hear she is on the mend.

Happy Mothers Day to all the Yummy Mummy's celebrating on Sunday!

My kids already have loads of home-made cards stashed away for me - I only have 2 kids, but they've made them at the 2 pre-schools, school, and Rainbows clubs they go to as well as at home
I have no idea what i'll be doing Sunday, but as long as I don't have to cook i'll be happy

Happy Mum's day to all that celebrate today.

Happy Mothers day to all the Eurpeon mummies

Happy first one Val

Happy Mother's Day to all the yummy mummys on the org - I hope your offspring spoil you rotten today

And to Val, I hope you have a very special day

I gave my mother a card and present three weeks ago, because I knew I'd be skint today. We texed this morning, and I'm going to see her later.

My mums not back from hols till Wednesday, so i guess im gonna get a £15 bouquet for about a £5 tomorrow...im a tight wad i know every little helps!

happy mum's day!

Joyinrepatition said:

Buying from Sainsburys?

Is it really celebrated throughout Europe?

In Poland its May 26th.

I'm in Berlin and there is no word on the mother's day.


Hmmmm.
[Edited 3/14/10 14:29pm]

rushing07 said:

I thought it was Europe but then another site said UK.

The most important one to me is the one in the states where my mom is.

MrsMdiver said:

It's strange that it is on different days. Maybe it's so that Hallmark can have a steady flow of income haha.

I bought my mum some yankee candle tea lights and holders, as she's gone a bit obsessed by them at the minute, bit odd. Anyway, she loved them, so job done

rushing07 said:

You are European?

Serious said:

rushing07 said:

Are you living in Berlin now?

Serious said:

Yep, yep.

rushing07 said:

May 9th in Holland.

HamsterHuey said:

Same as US.

rushing07 said:

That's so cool. I love Berlin .

HamsterHuey said:

2nd sunday?
same here