Laetare Sunday, or Mid-Lent Sunday, was a day when Christian worshippers would return to their ‘mother’ church, usually the church you had been baptised in. In some areas it would be the nearest cathedral (the mother church of all the local parish churches of the diocese). It was known as ‘going mothering’.
It was also a day when Lenten fasting could be eased and was associated with the Feeding of the Five Thousand. Special cakes and buns would be made by daughters for their mothers.
In large households, servants were allowed to visit their mothers to give them gifts of cakes and spring flowers, particularly violets and primroses. The Simnel Cake, which is now regarded as an Easter cake, was originally made as a gift for mothers on Mothering Sunday.
Traditionally this was a day to visit one’s mother, taking her gifts of cakes and buns and spring flowers. In recent years the day has become somewhat Americanised and often known as Mother’s Day rather than Mothering Sunday, and the association with attending one’s Mother Church has died out.
Mother’s Day cards have also become popular, and special cards and luxurious bunches of flowers are available in most supermarkets and florists.
