To ask why it is now Mother's Day

[AmazingGreatAunt]

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.

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.

It’s only Mothering Sunday for people who want to explain why it shouldn’t be Mothers Day.

I always call it Mothering Sunday - but perhaps because I go to Church. During our special service tomorrow we will not only be celebrating mothers and handing out daffodils to all adults who attend - but talking about returning to the Mother Church.

I dont think most of the UK return to their home church on mothering sunday/ mothers day either
Whilst it started off as church based its just become a day to celebrate mothers
Don't most of the countries that celebrate mothers day also celebrate it in may?

The thing is, the idea of mothering Sunday is irrelevant to the majority of people. For most people, the significance of the day is as mother's day.

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.

Of course it's a secularisation. We live in an increasingly secular country. Christmas and Easter are largely secular events these days, so I don't think the smaller festivals have a look in.

I think it's pretty normal for festivals to change to meet the needs of the population. Lots of these festivals belonged to other religions and became Christianised as that became the prevalent religion. This is just a continuation of that process really.

It's been Mother's Day since I was a child at least and that was 40+ years ago. Why does it bother you?

ETA I had no idea it referred to returning to your home church. Since I've never had any type of church and nor do the majority of the British population it's hardly surprising that most people don't understand it to have that meaning.

I have never called it Mothering Sunday. (Born mid 1960s here,) and only my great gran (born late 1880s) ever called it that. Oh, and a couple of great aunts who were also born in Victorian times.

Mothers Day all the way here!

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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.

I don't like "Mother's Day".

"Mothering Sunday" and "Mothers' Day" are both acceptable.

Well yes
But by that token Easter shouldn't be all about chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies
Rather then the crucifixion
But less and less people describe themselves as Christian, and many don't have any faith
I always enjoyed celebrating mothers day with my mum we woukd always go for a meal out with my sister .

“Mothers’” to be correct, not “Mother’s”

I'm in my sixties and have never heard it called "Mothering Sunday".

Mother's Day makes more sense as most people don't go to church anymore - thankfully.

Secular is best for the general public - religion should be strictly a private affair - no-one else's business and no imposing anyone's religious beliefs on the rest of us either.

I’m mid 40s and always heard Mother’s Day

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!

Also born mid 60s and even my Gran called it Mother's Day.

It used to be such a minor occasion. We didn't even make cards in primary school.

It was always called Mothering Sunday when I went to church as a child.

I’m 59, from Southwest England, we’ve always called it Mother’s Day. It was sometimes called Mothering Sunday by people who were a bit posh and religious.

First time I’ve ever heard of it being to do with church.

I call it a Hallmark Holiday and a I don’t have a religion

A Quick Google gives you the answer. It’s to do with lent and returning to one’s mother church. From the days when England was Catholic.

I’m Jewish. It’s Mother’s Day to me. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Never been a Christian holiday for us. I’m also from a country originally that celebrates the other non-churchy Mother’s Day, so growing up it was always about making cards and bringing flowers to your mum, same as for my dc.

I've always thought of it at the plural, Mothers' Day.

I don't really see Mothering Sunday as better, it's not a day for extra mothering to take place.

No biggie, some companies flog some products and kids make some cards in nursery & school to think about what their mum's do for them. I've had some nice little words in cards from my kids over the years and I think the world is better, rather than worse, for this small thing. You don't have to buy flowers or chocolates or have meals out.

Another vote for yes, its been known as Mothers' Day for decades. I've known it as Mothering Sunday but only as a source for the name, and the odd much older (or pedantic) person calling it that.

Do mumsnet have a set of threads to dust off at certain times of year?

Rightho team, Mothers Day/Mothering Sunday is nigh, fire up the debate 😁

I've seen this so many times and the answers never changes 😂