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Mothering Sunday |
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Mothering Sunday March-April; fourth Sunday in Lent It was the custom in 17th-century England for Christians to pay their respects on the fourth Sunday in Lent to the "Mother Church" where they had been baptized. Also known as Misers, or Mid-Lent, Sunday, this day usually included a visit to one's parents—to "go a-mothering," as it was called back then. It was common practice to bring a cake or trinket for the mother of the family. In England the favorite gift was the simnel cake, a saffron-flavored fruitcake topped with almond paste. In the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, the fourth Sunday in Lent is known as Laetare Sunday . The Introit of the Mass begins with the word "Rejoice" ( laetare in Latin), marking a slight respite in the solemn Lenten season, hence the terms Mid-Lent Sunday and Refreshment Sunday . Priests may wear rose-colored vestments to mass, instead of the usual purple for Lent, so the day is also called Rose Sunday . Also on this day the pope blesses the Golden Rose, an ornament resembling a spray of roses, symbolizing spiritual joy. SOURCES: BkDays-1864, vol. I, p. 335 BkFest-1937, p. 55 DaysCustFaith-1957, p. 89 DictDays-1988, pp. 76, 78, 95, 112 DictFolkMyth-1984, pp. 752, 1013 EncyEaster-2002, p. 334 FestSaintDays-1915, p. 50 FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 168 OxYear-1999, p. 612 RelHolCal-2004, p. 92 SaintFestCh-1904, p. 143 Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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