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Mother's Day in the UK — when it is and where it comes from

UK Mother's Day (Mothering Sunday) falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent — typically in March, three weeks before Easter. It is not the same date as the US Mother's Day (second Sunday in May).

Origins

Mothering Sunday has Christian origins — it was traditionally the day when people returned to their 'mother church' (the main church of the area) for a service. Domestic servants were given the day off to visit their families. The connection to mothers evolved over centuries from the church meaning to the family meaning.

UK Mother's Day dates

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