Mother’s Day (this year on March 14th) was traditionally called Mothering Sunday, and dates back to the 1600s when children already working away from home as servants would be allowed back home half way through Lent.
After church, the children would gather flowers from hedgerows and present them to their mothers, sometimes along with Simnel Cakes they’d baked.
Although these days there’s commercial pressure to buy flowers, cakes and other gifts, an afternoon spent making or baking could be just the thing to get the littluns (or you!) away from the Wii!
If you are tidier than me and don’t live surrounded by piles of bits and bobs that would have gone into landfil or the recycling box, "in case you need to make something", you could simply challenge the kids or yourself to keep card and plastic bits for the next week, or to raid the recycling box / bag at the end of the week, and commit to making a card from whatever you have, no matter how odd!
Alternatively, you could take a tip from Trixi’s Christmas article and make your own e-card, or create a meaningful collage honouring your Mum and motherhood. Our new friend Licia Berry makes amazing collages on this theme, so do check her out for inspiration.
If the Simnel Cake is a bit big or marzipan is not your thing, then you could try Mrs Green’s Raisin, Chocolate and Beetroot Muffins or Maddy’s Scrummy Carrot Cake.
On the day, instead of buying air- or land-freighted flowers, how about planting some bulbs together in the garden or on the window sill, or going on a woodland walk, looking for buds appearing and bluebell leaves emerging, as much more carbon-neutral alternatives? Check the Woodland Trust’s website for ideas.
And finally (as always) if you do want to buy something, but want to make sure it’s ethically sourced, don’t forget to search the Ooffoo Marketplace, and visit the Gifts for Her section of the Natural Collection catalogue.
Wishing all Ooffoo and VegBox Mums and their children a love-filled day. Let us know how you celebrate.
Categories: lifestyle, seasonal eating
great article, I never knew the origin of this day. Like most days similar, it always ends up feeling like some commerical-designed holiday. Thanks for adding the links, will give me some ideas
Thanks Maddy! I’m just so grateful that these days, even if we DO decide to go down the route of buying things, at least we are able to make some sound ethical choices. Happy Mother’s Day to the Great Mother in us all! A great opportunity to celebrate Mother Earth too, eh?