One thing which really annoys me is the way Mothering Sunday has been transformed into Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is an American occasion kept on the 2nd Sunday in May and formalised by an American called Anna Jarvis in 1912. Mothering Sunday in the Church Calendar is kept on the 4th Sunday in Lent and is known by several different titles: Laetare Sunday, Mid-Lent Sunday, Refreshment Sunday and Mothering Sunday. It is a day when we are reminded to honour Mother Church, to honour Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of us all, and to honour our own mothers.
Wikipedia gives the following information: Most historians believe that it originated from the 16th century Christian practice of visiting one's mother church annually on Laetere Sunday which meant that most mothers would be reunited with their children on this day when young apprentices and young women in servitude were released by their masters that weekend. As a result of secularization, it was then principally used to show appreciation to one's mother, although it is still recognized in the historical sense by some churches, with attention paid to Mary the mother of Jesus Christ as well as the traditional concept 'Mother Church'.
It is quite frustrating trying to find a card for “Mothering Sunday” rather than just Mother’s Day; it is possible but the choice is minimal
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