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Mother’s Day in Wales and in the rest of the UK is celebrated each year three weeks before Easter Day, or Easter Sunday. It is also the fourth Sunday in Lent. Often known as Mothering Sunday in the UK and Sul y Mamau in Wales, it gives children of all ages the chance to celebrate their Mothers.
Unlike other celebration days such as Christmas, St Dwynwen’s and Valentine's Days, Cilmeri Day and Halloween, Mother’s Day falls on different dates every year. This is because it is exactly three weeks before Easter Day, 12th April 2020 (which also falls on different Sundays each year!). The UK will celebrate Mother's Day this year on 22nd March 2020.
Mother’s Day in Wales is the same date as for the rest of the UK. In Welsh Mother’s Day is Sul y Mamau and Happy Mother’s Day in Welsh is Sul y Mamau Hapus. Mothers Day or Sul y Mamu is marked by the giving or cards and presents
The origins of Mothering Sunday in the UK begin in the Middle Ages, when children who had left their families to work in domestic service were allowed to go back to their home church - or "mother church" as it was known.
At first, the "mothering" aspect of the day had no link to maternal parents, as it does today. The homeward journey also became a springtime occasion for families to reunite. The custom then developed for children to pick flowers on the way home as a gift to their mothers. The date also became a celebration as the fasting rules of Lent were relaxed to allow revellers a long-awaited feast.
So it also became known as Refreshment Sunday, Simnel Sunday – after the simnel cakes traditionally baked on the day - and Pudding Pie Sunday to some.
So how did "Mothering Sunday", a UK name and celebration become "Mother's Day"? Well... the Americans!
The American festival of Mother's Day, which is held later in the year and has no religious connotations, drifted across the Atlantic. Mother’s Day USA also changes the date each year as it is celebrated on the second Sunday of May – in 202 Mother’s Day is on 10th May. So soon Mothering Sunday became more popularly known as Mother's Day in the UK. The American day was created in 1907 by Anna Jarvis, who held a memorial for her mother Ann Jarvis, a peace activist who treated wounded soldiers in the American Civil War. Her daughter campaigned for a day to honour the role played by mothers. The idea was readily accepted in the USA and 1911 all states had established a public holiday.In 1914, Mothers Day in the USA became a national holiday following a declaration by President Woodrow Wilson .
Many other countries also celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May. These include Canada, most European countries, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Japan, the Philippines and South Africa. Most Arab countries celebrate Mother's Day on March 21st (Vernal or Spring Equinox) whereas most East European countries celebrate Mother's Day on March 8th.
In most countries, Mother's Day is a recent observance derived from the holiday as it has evolved in America. When it was adopted by other countries and cultures, it was given different meanings, associated to different events (religious, historical or legendary), and celebrated on a different date or dates. Some countries already had existing celebrations honouring motherhood, and their celebrations have adopted several external characteristics from the USA holiday, like giving cards and other presents on Mother’s Day.
Our company, FelinFach Natural Textiles is located in the heart of the Preseli area of Pembrokeshire near to Boncath. We design Welsh blankets, Welsh woollen blankets and throws which are traditionally woven at Welsh mills. We also design and make natural hand dyed yarn, cotton, silk and wool scarves and other handmade products. We are a proud supporter of the Campaign for Wool, Global Welsh and Wales International.
