Mother's Day is a special occasion to honor mothers and mother figures. Their profound impact on an individual, a family and society is celebrated through gifts (to mothers) and seminars. But a similar event is being held there in some parts of the world which has caused confusion among the people. It's called Mother's Sunday. While Mother's Day is celebrated in the US, Canada, Australia, most of Europe and India, Mother's Day is mainly celebrated in Britain.
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Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May – this year the day falls on May 12. Mothering Sunday, meanwhile, is celebrated three weeks before Easter Sunday. In 2024, Mother's Day was celebrated on March 31.
History of Mother's Day
Activist Anna Jarvis, inspired by her own mother's dedication to humanitarian work, founded Mother's Day in the US in 1908. In 1914, then US President Woodrow Wilson officially designated the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day.
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Mother's Day has enormous significance as it provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of mothers to society.
The origin of Mothering Sunday
According to the BBCDuring the Middle Ages, a custom developed that allowed people who had moved from their homes or “mother church” to return and visit their mothers.
This later became Mother Sunday in Great Britain. It is observed as part of Lent, a tradition in which people decide to give up something they love – perhaps chocolate, sweets or even the use of social media.
Because the dates of Lent vary each year, so does the date of Mothering Sunday. It is called Mother's Day in Great Britain, but has no connection with American Mother's Day.
However, mothers are the central figure in the celebrations on both days, leading to confusion.
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