When did mothers day begin in the UK?

The tradition of Mother's Day in the UK can be traced back to the 16th century custom of 'Mothering Sunday', which took place on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This coincides with the church calendar, making it difficult to remember when the day is each year. On this occasion, people would go to the church they were christened in or the closest cathedral, which was known as 'going a-mothering'.

This day gave families the opportunity to come together, so the focus gradually shifted to visiting one's own mother rather than the mother church. People picked wildflowers as a sign of appreciation and presented their mothers with delicious treats such as Simnel cake, 'mothering buns' or fig pie, despite the austerity of Lent.