{ mothers Day post }

Why is the UK Mother's Day different?

Here is one of the great ironies of life.

The USA/Canada has this image of being a deeply religious (Christian) country, and the UK is sold as a deeply unreligious country (as far as Christianity goes).

However, the UK observes more Christian traditions than any part of the USA.*

One of them is Mothering Sunday or English mothers day which is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Some say this was so called because it was a special day for the ‘Mother’ church, some because it is nine months before Christmas Day, so honoring Mother Mary. It honored motherhood in its various forms. It has been celebrated since the sixteenth century. Later it was a day that servants were allowed time off to visit their mothers.

In the USA its origins lie in a different direction. Enterprise. The ‘inventor’ of Mother's Day in the USA determined a day to celebrate mothers (the date had something to do with his own mother) so that he could profit from cards, etc. So, strictly a commercial venture, nothing to do with religion, nothing to do with mothers really, just a way to make money.

Pancake Day - This is Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday (the start of Lent, where people fast (or give up something they enjoy in modern times) for forty days. Traditionally people went to confession to be shriven of their sins, then feasted to use up all their dairy produce (hence pancakes) before the fast started.

Easter - In the UK no shops are open on Easter Sunday (except corner shops) It wasn’t that many years ago that no shops were allowed to open on Sunday at all, to observe the Christian ‘on the seventh day he rested’. Even today there is a maximum of six hours opening times for most supermarkets on a Sunday. (Edit: Scotland does not close stores on Easter Sunday).

Christmas is a much bigger ‘thing’ in the UK than the USA where Thanksgiving is a bigger holiday.

Boxing Day - The day after Christmas. Churches would traditionally hand round boxes to do collections for the poor, in the build-up to Christmas, and open those boxes the day after Christmas so it could be distributed. Later it became a day off for servants. (I’ve heard some strange explanations for Boxing Day recently like the day gifts are returned, but the day pre-dates gift giving and pre-dates servants getting the day off. Everything goes back to the church tradition, and this day goes way back).

Obviously, the UK has Christians who seriously observe these days, but the vast majority are just following traditions that have been passed down. One such tradition is acting more Christian in everyday life, like caring for your fellow man (NHS for example). Sharing the load and respecting others' rights as much as your own. Not looking down on the poor. It is not ‘socialism’ it is respect for others. It is not a ‘weakness’ it is a strength. We are not perfect, not by a long shot, but we celebrate MothersDay for the right reason.

Conclusion

Mother's Day 2023 is a special day to celebrate and honor the incredible women in our lives who have raised and nurtured us. It is a time to show our love and appreciation for all the sacrifices they have made and the endless support they have given us. Whether it's through a thoughtful gift, a heartfelt card, or spending quality time with them, the important thing is to make sure our mothers know just how much they mean to us. As we look forward to Mother's Day 2023, let's take the opportunity to express our gratitude and love for the amazing women who have shaped us into the people we are today.

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