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.

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

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!

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

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.

i am approaching 60 and it was always Mother’s Day since the late 70s I think - before I left school

very confused about “returning to home church “ - what’s that about ?

The Christian’s used to kill people by burning them to death - I don’t think “it’s an historical Christian event” sells something to me!

I'm 71, secular, and know the day as Mother's Day for me, and Mothers' Day for all the other mothers out there!

Mothering Sunday was part of Lent and those in service were given leave to return home to their 'mother' church.

But in reality it meant they could go back to see their families, which many in service could rarely do.

Mother's Day originated in the US in the early 1900s and was made official by Woodrow Wilson in 1914. As the name became more well known, and as the church link declined, the UK drifted to calling it Mother's Day.

The punctuation is singular as it's to celebrate each individual mother in a family, not collectively.

Father's Day was suggested not long after Mother's Day but took until 1972 to be official.

The first legal celebration of Mother's Day was in 1914 and was signed into law by Woodrow Wilson. (As opposed to Mothering Sunday which had been going since the 1600s)

He specifically stated it was Mother's and not Mothers' because it was a celebration for each individual family to honour their mother, not a collective appreciation.

I'm surprised people from the sixties are saying they cannot ever remember it being Mothering Sunday, when I was born in the 70s and remember it occasionally being referred to as such.

I went to a big standard primary. We referred to it as both, and we learned about Lent and other holy days.

I think it's a great cultural loss that it's original meaning is perhaps only observed by a small minority in the Anglican or Catholic faith. Imagine everyone travelling together having the shared experience of going back to their mother church.

It's now mostly a commercial holiday.

Must depend on the church.
I went to church every Sunday until D-Day (my 18th birthday) and don't recall it being called that but then I never listened as it was such an irritation to be forced to go against my will).

Me too. I still notice "On Mothering Sunday" cards in the rack every year, because they remind me of a classmate whose mother always insisted on one in the 90s.

Surely it’s what it means to you. It’s probably ‘Mother’s Day’ because we’re a diverse society and it evolved. Some people enjoy commercial aspects of celebrations eg Christmas Eve boxes/ Easter baskets/ Spring wreaths and decor/ matching PJs etc and others prefer simplicity. As long as it brings joy, where’s the harm?

Churches still have ‘mothering Sunday’ services. The last one I attended several years ago involved all Mums getting a bunch of daffodils. There’s plenty of options for everyone.

Born mid 50's and called it Mothering Sunday as a child.

I’ve never met anyone who calls it Mothering Sunday. My Grandma on one side is Jewish and the other is a retired Anglican vicar. Both say Mothers Day.

That's really intersting because I remember celebrating Father's day as a child way before then.

I’m in my 60’s and have always called it Mothers’ Day. I’m Scottish, I wonder if Mothering Sunday didn’t survive the reformation, it all sounds a bit too much fun for the CoS.

Absolutely.

I bet OP has been dying to point out the origins of the day all week so she can be all smug about it.

Same as everyone else...it's never been called Mothering Sunday by me or anyone else I know.
Mothers Day all the way.

Born early 70s, always called it mother's day. My gran born in the 1920s always called it mother's day. It's not new

I usually tried to find cards which said Mothering Sunday rather than Mother's Day or Mothers' Day simply because that is what my mother preferred. She was a churchgoer, and used the traditional name. I don't really think it matters what it is called, and to judge someone as being a snob for preferring that seems as unkind as judging them for being secular and calling it Mother's or Mothers' Day.

A flowers and chocolates day, for ME, yes please. 😍

Goodness!
Well according to the responses I must be a "posh" religious person.
OK I will admit to having been christened, confirmed, and sang in the church choir as well as having married in church.
Perhaps that is where my understanding comes from.
However, having lived in Europe for the best part of 40 years, I do not have a problem with Mothers' Day or Mother's Day - depending on how you like your apostrophes.
It is just that my UK always had Mothering Sunday, as we did in our family.

You're cheery.

Where did you grow up?