5 interesting facts about Mother's Day
2. A Lenten origin
The British celebration for mothers traces its origins back centuries before the U.S. was an independent country with an observance called Mothering Sunday.
Mothering Sunday was a special Sunday during the liturgical season of Lent, the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter.
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The holiday fell on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, which was carved out to honor the Virgin Mary. Part of the celebration included bringing gifts to one's own mother.
"Mothering Sunday was also known as Refreshment Sunday because the fasting rules for Lent were relaxed on that day. Besides both Old and New Testament lessons on mid-Lent Sunday made a point of food," noted mothersdaycelebration.com.
"The Gospel reading from the New Testament told the story of how Jesus fed five thousand people with only five small barley loaves and two small fish, (John 6:10-12)."
