TO ERIKA, SUSAN, RACHEL AND ALL ENGLISH MOTHERS!
"who goes a mothering
finds violets in the lane"
mothering sunday was originally an old english festival honouring the 'mother church'. that later became a day that people honoured their own mothers. servants and apprentices living away from home were given a holiday on the 4th sunday in lent to visit their mothers. they would traditionally bring them flowers and simnel cake.
From Skipping in the Meadow.
Houray and Blessings for all good workers in the Wineyard!
ReplyDeleteGöran, you've met all the ladies.
ReplyDeleteIt's also called Laetare Sunday, from the opening word of the introit in the Latin rite (from Isaiah 66:10-11): "Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her, that you may drink deeply with delight from her consoling breast."
ReplyDeleteWe have Mothering Day here in Berkeley at St. Marks every year. All the mothers and others that are considered mothers are given some daffodils on the way back from Communion.
ReplyDeleteLast year I was in England on Mothering Day, and I attended Doorman-Priest's church and heard him preach (Great sermon!). Afterwards, we went to his house for lunch, and I spent the afternoon there. We watched "Lavender Ladies", which we had all seen before but loved seeing again.
ReplyDeleteI had a nasty English cold and sneezed and sniffled all afternoon. Rachel finally gave me my own big special box of tissues, because I ran out of the small pack in my purse.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
ReplyDeleteJesus as mother. Thanks for the reminder, Ormonde.
Thinking back to that afternoon. We had a nice day didn't we?
ReplyDeleteLet's do it again one day!
DP, it was a lovely day. What could be better than a relaxed Sunday afternoon with good friends? I'd love to do it again one day. We could do it here in Thibodaux, too.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day to all.
ReplyDeleteI remember learning somewhere (when I was in Sheffield?) that Mothering Sunday had two references, both Middle Ages - when "the hired help" were allowed to return home to a visit with their mothers as well as a Sunday when everyone went to church at the Cathedral ("Mother Church"). Probably just myth. (Or, good old fashioned British BS).
ReplyDeleteWiki says pretty much what you say, Elizabeth. The holiday was originally a pagan celebration.
ReplyDeleteA religious festival celebrating motherhood had existed in Europe since Neolithic times. In the Roman religion the Hilaria festival was held in honour of the mother goddess Cybele and it took place during mid-March. As the Roman Empire and Europe converted to Christianity, this celebration became part of the liturgical calendar as Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent to honour the Virgin Mary and the "mother church".
How 'bout dat Hilaria?
Is it really already a whole year ago? It was so very special to meet you! I'm with DP, we should do it again!
ReplyDeleteThis year we didn't even make it to church because we were looking after 2 very tired and crotchety grandsons. But we did go to an amazing gospel concert in church in the evening that was given by my girls' school's renowned gospel choir. You would have loved it!
Yes indeed Grand'mère, I know the ladies in question. It was lovely all! But I did mean to include everyone ;=)
ReplyDeleteErika, it doesn't seem like a year, does it? The Gospel concert sounds wonderful. I would have loved it. In the early days, when the NO Jazz Fest was small and consisted mostly of local musicians and I still liked to go, I spent hours in the Gospel tent.
ReplyDeleteI thought about making a simnel cake, but way too much work for me.
ReplyDeleteMark, the only time I've ever eaten simnel cake was when I went to St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue. At the coffee hour, no one spoke to me for a full 15 minutes, and then I initiated a conversation because I was embarrassed for them by their lack of welcome for a stranger.
ReplyDeleteThe cake was delicious.
Oh, it is delicious!
ReplyDeleteI can identify with the "welcome." I almost stopped being an Episcopalian because the largest church here, when I attended, gave proof to the old "frozen chosen" trope.
I actually initiated a conversation with a group, and - within seconds of "Hello, lovely church!" - I was asked what I did for a living. I had just graduated college, so I replied that I hadn't established myself yet, and found myself alone with my coffee. The priest was far too busy with the Judge and the Senator to be bothered with more than "Er, yes, hello."
I left. Fortunately, a few years later, I found St. Pat's.
Sad, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteTo say the least!
ReplyDeleteIt went into a tailspin when the Judge and the Senator left because of The Gay Plague and the families who had always been Episcopalian started dying off or moving to more profitable locations.
It's started recovering under a more outgoing priest and a rather liberal influx. It's still the church you go to, though, if you want to worship without the bother of being part of a community.