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Original poster

To ask why it is now Mother's Day

204 replies

AmazingGreatAunt · 14/03/2026 11:39

instead of Mothering Sunday?
Is this a further sign of the secularising of the UK in general or just the assimilation of additional transatlantic habits?
I live in a European country that has a Mother's Day at the beginning of May, which has nothing to do with returning to your home church.

OP posts:
AnnaQuayRules · 14/03/2026 14:00

It's true that the majority of people don't go to church and certainly don't return to their "mother church" for Mothering Sunday.

But I do think it's a shame that people now talk about Mother's Day rather than Mothering Sunday. It's a historical Christan/church event.

Maddy70 · 14/03/2026 13:55

I'm in my late 50s. I've never known it as mothering Sunday. Always mother's day

MasterBeth · 14/03/2026 13:55

Charlize43 · 14/03/2026 12:27

I'm also sick of the commercialisation. I doesn't see that long after the hard sell of Valentine's day.... then after MD, Easter!

Show quote history

Oh no! A series of unconnected days of historic significance spaced a month or so apart which you have no obligation to celebrate. What's next! Summer, then Autumn then Winter!

Auroraloves · 14/03/2026 13:54

YABU. You don’t have to be a Christian or regularly attend church to want to show appreciation to your Mum

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 14/03/2026 13:53

64 and we've always called it Mother's Day.

ginasevern · 14/03/2026 13:51

I'm 69 and in my childhood we always called it Mothering Sunday. We weren't a "churchy" family though. Mother's Day became the standard sometime in the 70's.

KnickerlessParsons · 14/03/2026 13:48

But we ignore it in this family, however it’s spelled. I don’t want my kids spending money on plastic tat or flowers that I can watch die over the next few days.

KnickerlessParsons · 14/03/2026 13:47

QueenStevie · 14/03/2026 13:30

Can anyone explain why it is Mother's Day and not Mothers' Day? I work in a school and we make cards and every year I feel the need to check that I am not being stupid because, to me, it should be Mothers'.

Anyway, in answer to your question, my nan called it Mothering Sunday. She was religious and traditional. Everyone else I know calls it Mother's Day. As others have said it was to do with returning to your main home church and many servants got a rare day off where they could return home to see their family.

It’s Mothers’ Day because it’s a day to celebrate and thank all mothers.

If it were Mother’s Day, we’d just be celebrating one mother.

Monsterslam · 14/03/2026 13:33

We should just do what Mexico do and all women just go on strike for the day. I think it would be far better than moaning about not getting the right flowers, while you mop the floors ready for the school week.

QueenStevie · 14/03/2026 13:30

Can anyone explain why it is Mother's Day and not Mothers' Day? I work in a school and we make cards and every year I feel the need to check that I am not being stupid because, to me, it should be Mothers'.

Anyway, in answer to your question, my nan called it Mothering Sunday. She was religious and traditional. Everyone else I know calls it Mother's Day. As others have said it was to do with returning to your main home church and many servants got a rare day off where they could return home to see their family.

BauhausOfEliott · 14/03/2026 13:30

My grandparents called it Mother’s Day and they were born in the 1910s.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 14/03/2026 13:28

Charlize43 · 14/03/2026 12:27

I'm also sick of the commercialisation. I doesn't see that long after the hard sell of Valentine's day.... then after MD, Easter!

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Yes, how awful people should want to sell us things and make money 🤔

Puffalicious · 14/03/2026 13:21

maysayyea · 14/03/2026 12:53

I’m an atheist but was brought up in a super religious house, its always been Mother’s Day
Happy to adopt the religious holidays as secular events. It reduces the power of the church and religion overall. That can only be a good thing

Yup!

Was it perhaps a Church of England tradition of returning to the Mother church? Grew up in a Catholic household in Scotland & it was NEVER Mothering Sunday. I had never even heard of the phrase until I was older & saw it referred to as such on TV/ newspapers.

I can't stand this middle- England, middle/ upper class snobbery over what things are called.

LoudTealHare · 14/03/2026 13:18

tarheelbaby · 14/03/2026 11:45

MIL in particular thinks of it as Mothering Sunday. She is a regular congregant but we do not all go to church together on MS. I have noticed this year especially that there are hardly any cards saying Mothering Sunday.

I wouldn't call it secularisation per se but perhaps recognition that many people are not Christians and do not go to church but would like to celebrate their mothers.

this traditional British day merged with the more commercial American Mother's Day, though it still falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This happened in the 20th century

bringthewashingin · 14/03/2026 13:16

BeeCucumber · 14/03/2026 11:52

I loathe Mother’s Day. I am a mother all day, everyday. I don’t need a special day - I hate the commercialisation of all of it and the pressure it puts on people.

I cannot wait for Sunday here on mn when we will get the inevitable moans about the lack of effort shown on the day and how they didn’t get their
spa day/flowers/chocolates/breakfast at Tiffany’s or whatever.

It is supposed to be Mothering Sunday - where you go back to your mother church where you grew up. It’s part of the Easter calendar.

My mother was a mother all day, every day too! We didn’t need a special day to
show how much we loved her. However, we made Mother’s Day ‘extra special’ for her…happily, we always managed to do both.

Everybodys · 14/03/2026 13:16

I actually will be going back to my mother church, but I've still never thought of it as Mothering Sunday.

Wheelbarrowracer · 14/03/2026 13:02

Grew up Catholic. Went to church and everything. I think i can vaguely remember the terms being interchangeable.

Graham Swift wrote a novel called Mothering Sunday.

CatusFlatus · 14/03/2026 12:59

NewZebra · 14/03/2026 11:41

I’m 39 and don’t think I’ve ever actually called it Mothering Sunday. To me and my family at least it’s always been Mother’s Day.

Same here and I'm 60.

LittlePetitePsychopath · 14/03/2026 12:59

Charlize43 · 14/03/2026 12:27

I'm also sick of the commercialisation. I doesn't see that long after the hard sell of Valentine's day.... then after MD, Easter!

Show quote history

Every six weeks, as it’s always been…

ReignOfError · 14/03/2026 12:57

It was rarely called Mothering Sunday when I was a kid, and I’m 70.

MadinMarch · 14/03/2026 12:56

NewZebra · 14/03/2026 11:41

I’m 39 and don’t think I’ve ever actually called it Mothering Sunday. To me and my family at least it’s always been Mother’s Day.

I'm 67 and it's always been known as Mother's Day to me too.

Nipnap · 14/03/2026 12:56

I call it sunday.

Ashkrevon · 14/03/2026 12:54

Its become that because like all other names and words that change over time it has changed.

We no longer say thee thou etc. A bird used to be a brid. Want to complain about that as well??

maysayyea · 14/03/2026 12:53

I’m an atheist but was brought up in a super religious house, its always been Mother’s Day
Happy to adopt the religious holidays as secular events. It reduces the power of the church and religion overall. That can only be a good thing

winnieanddaisy · 14/03/2026 12:47

I’m 72 and I’ve always known it as Mother’s Day .