When is Mother’s Day 2014 in the UK? And how to spoil your mum...

It’s the one day of the year when you’re legally obligated* to say thanks to your mum for years of washing your smelly socks, making you packed lunches and listening to you moan about how awful your job/boyfriend/flat/life is.

This year Mother’s Day falls on March 30th but where did all this mother-loving come from?

History

Contrary to popular belief Mother’s Day and Mothering Sunday are NOT the same thing.

Mothering Sunday was an old Christian tradition here in the UK dating back to the 16th Century, when people traditionally returned to their ‘mother church’ on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

The tradition died out over the years until 1908 when an American lady named Anna Jarvis started a campaign for an official day to recognize the wonderfulness of mothers.

Anna was inspired after the death of her own mother, social activist Ann, and fought to create a national holiday.

She was successful and 1914 saw the first official Mother’s Day in the US.

Ironically, by the early 1920s Anna had become completely disenchanted with how commercialized the holiday had become.

She was even arrested for disturbing the peace while protesting the day she had helped to create.

These days, the two events have merged so that in the UK Mother’s Day always falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent i.e. Mothering Sunday.

Gift Guide

You want to treat your mum to something lovely but money's a bit tight? Fear not, we've compiled the ultimate gift guide and everything is £20 or under! You're welcome.