History of Mother's Day
Early celebrations of motherhood can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, when people organised annual festivals in honour of the goddesses Rhea and Cybele, who represented mothers and motherhood.
In modern times, Mother's Day in the UK has its origins in the 16th century, when it was a tradition for people to return to their "mother church" on the fourth Sunday in Lent for a special service. People returning to the local parish church (usually the one where they were baptised) were said to be "a-mothering". This Christian tradition became "Mothering Sunday" over the years, with the emphasis becoming more about celebrating motherhood, rather than attending church.
By the 18th and 19th centuries, it was a time when domestic servants were given a rare holiday to visit their family. Many would pick wildflowers along the way as a gift for their mum, establishing the modern tradition of giving a bouquet on Mother's Day.
How much do people spend on Mother's Day gifts?
While the date remains the fourth Sunday in Lent, the celebration is much bigger and more commercial today than it was in the early years.
A study of 2,000 UK residents revealed the average person spends around £72 on gifts for Mother's Day. Almost three-quarters of the population say they celebrate with a present. We spent a staggering £1.34 billion pounds on Mother's Day in 2022 including retail gifts, meals and other activities. This was similar to the amount spent in 2021. Around one-quarter of spending was at jewellery stores and florists.
You know, you don't need to spend a fortune on cards and gifts to let your mum know how much she's appreciated! Around 28% of respondents in a survey by Global Data said their favourite Mother's Day activity was spending quality time with their mum - which doesn't cost a penny!
Here are five thoughtful ways to make the day special...
- Bake a cake
You don't have to be a master chef to bake a cake or some cookies! There are plenty of simple recipes online, with instructions for complete beginners.
An ideal Mother's Day treat is a simnel cake, as it is traditionally associated with Lent. Look up Mary Berry's simnel cake for an easy recipe. It's a fruit cake sweetened with layers of almond paste and decorated with 11 marzipan balls to represent the 11 disciples.
Some bakers suggest making it a few days before the big day and then storing it in an airtight container, so it will have exactly the right degree of moistness when eaten.
- Cook dinner
If your mum does dinner for the family every day, it will be a lovely surprise if you cook for her for a change.
If your mum enjoys a traditional Sunday roast, this is an ideal Mother's Day dinner. However, there are so many different recipes out there including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other options.
Even if you're not a great chef, it's the action of spending time in the kitchen, cooking a meal, that makes it special. Throw in a bottle of bubbly or non-alcoholic champagne for the finishing touch.
- Clear out the garage
If you can't afford to spend a lot of money on a Mother's Day gift, why not clear out the garage for mum instead? Research by RAC Home Insurance reveals 4.6 million of the UK's 10.6 million garages are not used for the original purpose.
Many have become cluttered and are just a dumping ground for junk that you will probably never use again. An organised garage is a great idea – you might even be able to park the car in there! You will also know where to find the items in storage that you're going to need at some point.
- Clean the house
Did you know, the average mum spends four hours a day cleaning the house? This equates to 59 full days a year spent doing housework! Research by bedding firm Slumberdown reveals parents spend more time completing household chores than they do playing with the kids.
Offer to clean your mum's house for her on Mother's Day, as she would really appreciate someone else doing it for a change. If the house is full of clutter, put items away in their proper place and then take the junk to the tip for her.
- Tidy the garden
Now spring is here, it's an ideal time to tidy the garden for your mum. Pull the weeds up from the beds and tubs, plant spring flowers, power-wash the path and tidy the shed if necessary.
If your mum enjoys pottering in the garden, make sure it's all ready for her to work on in her spare time as summer approaches.
Come on, guys, let's make this Mother's Day a particularly special one!