Welsh Newspapers: Mothering Sunday, Part 2 (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, March 30, 2014, 15:41 (3673 days ago) @ Jefff

Some of us complain nowadays about how commercialism has taken hold of our special days, it seems that this isn't just a modern phenomenon !

Aberystwyth Observer, 17th March 1892;
"MOTHERING SUNDAY.
In olden times in certain parts of England it was the custom for folk to attend the parish church on Mid-Lent Sunday for the purpose of making offering. This Sunday was sometimes known as Refresh- ment Sunday, from the fact that the gospel for the day was the story of the miracle of the feeding of the 5000. This custom gave rise to another custom, for on the same day children used to visit their parents, taking simnel cakes with them as a gift. And as it was the mothers that these presents were usually intended for, this Sunday was called Mothering Sunday. In certain districts of the northern and midland counties of England, simnel cakes are still eaten on this Mid-Lent Sunday."
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3045966/ART85/mothering%20sunday

Cardiff Times 4th April 1903;
"Mothering Sunday is passed, and good and faithful affectionate children have joined once more in the custom of carrying mothering cakes. This quaint and pretty custom is still popular in Monmouthshire and some portions of Wales, but it is not general, and we seem to hear less and less of the Simnel cakes and Mothering Sunday. More's the pity, for it is the custom which is not so liable to abuse as the observance of Palm Sunday, which readers will not need to be told falls to-morrow. In South Wales the beautiful custom of decorating the graves on Palm Sunday has sadly degenerated into a practice of a most regrettable character. It has been robbed of all its beauty and true significance by the lavish way in which money is spent upon flowers, not so much out of respect for the dead as in competition with the living. Palm Sunday has grown into a huge flower contest, and the whole populace frequent the cemeteries in anything but a reverential and orderly spirit. It is a day of revelry and of noisy talk, more approaching a fair-time than the places of the dead. Indeed, to such extremes has the regrettable practice been carried that the question of closing the graveyards and cemeteries on Palm Sunday has been seriously discussed. A beautiful custom has been sadly degraded, and money is spent in a competitive spirit and for show which should properly go for food for children or on clothing for their backs. It is noted, too, that graves neglected the whole year round suddenly receive attention a few days prior to Palm Sunday, when they are smothered with costly flowers. Flowering Sunday has lost nearly all its beautiful significance, and the noisy revel in and around the graveyards is most unseemly."
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3415182/ART130/mothering%20sunday

South Wales Weekly Post, 29th March 1919;
"MUMBLES MOTHERS.
Mid Lent Sunday, which is widely known in various parts of the country as Mother- ing Sunday," is very little known in this part of the world, and many people have never even heard of it. Mrs Harold Williams, wife of the Vicar of Oystermouth, is endeavouring to make it more widely known and observed, and on Thursday evening a meeting of mothers was held in the Parish Hall, Mumbles, when Mrs Williams gave a pleasing and interesting account of the origin of the custom. In the Jewish Church the Jews always endeavoured to visit the Temple on this day, and following that the early Christians used to visit their Mother Church on the date. Each mother receiving a small cake named a "Semmel" cake. The aim of Mrs Williams' address was to show the need of unity in the Church and home. During the evening a charming little play, entitled "In praise of Mother," was performed by the following ciiildren: - Joyce Moore, Freda Parry, Ivy Arthurs, Nettie Tarr, Molly and Irene Oakey, Jacy Tarr, and Eric Stephens, wbile appropriate songs were given by Miss Naylor."
http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/4110905/ART28/mothering%20sunday

I hope all the Mothers in our lives, be they past, present or expecting, enjoy very pleasant Mothering Sundays - not to mention all the other Sundays too !