FOUR SHIRES v CELEBRATE
mother’s DAY
treats silver pendant
from a selection at KNR Jewellery
G GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUR LOVELY MUM!
Generally referred to as ‘Mothers Day’ in the UK the correct name for the day is ‘Mothering Sunday’.
Although Mothering Sunday is always the fourth Sunday of Lent, as the dates for Easter and Lent do vary the actual Sunday chosen to celebrate it changes from year to year. This year it falls on Sunday 18th March.
In Victorian times it was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mothers and families. Today, the sentiments are the same, in that visiting and treating Mothers has become a day when children (of all ages, for we never cease to be somebody’s child!) give gifts, flowers and cards to their mothers.
Churchgoers today traditionally worship at their nearest parish (‘daughter’) church. But go back in time and it was considered important for people to return to their home (‘mother’) church at least once a year - and this would happen in the middle of Lent.
The annual return to the ‘mother’ church therefore became an occasion for family reunions. Children who worked away from home returned to spend the day with their families - or, more importantly, their mothers. It must have been an exciting day of celebrations, considering that it was quite common for children to leave home to work in service from as young as ten.
Most historians believe that it was this return to the ‘mother’ church that led to the present day tradition and Mothering Sunday has now become a special day for families. It’s the one time in the year when people give thanks to their mothers and it offers an opportunity to express love and thanks for the work they all do.
Just a few days to go then, so arm yourselves with some good cheer and plan a Mother’s Day to remember. Here we have a few ideas to get you stared:
If your Mum likes a little pampering and never gets the chance to relax, a spa day or beauty treatment could be the perfect gift. There are some lovely independent salon across the Four Shires - try Defern Beauty in Brackley for a wonderful range of beauty treatments (
www.defernbeauty.co.uk), or the leisure club and spa at the Randolf Hotel in Oxford for a luxurious spa day. Afternoon Tea at the Ritz in London could be a very welcome, if extravagant treat, and certainly an outing to remember in the most sumptious of surroundings. But if the £42 (per person) price tag leaves you feeling a little light headed, look for something closer to home, perhaps at the picturesque Danesfield House Country Hotel in Marlow-on- Thames. Of course, any mother will be thrilled with flowers (try Hibiscus, a lovely independent florist at
www.hibiscusfloraldesign.co.uk) or chocolates (Belflair in Banbury supply a heavenly selection - information at
www.belflairchocolates.co. uk). Or, finally, perhaps a delightful trinket like the silver pendant above, from KNR Jewellery, or even the real thing from a selection at Michael Jones Jewellers.
Whatever your choice, make this Mother’s Day a day to remember - and let us know about your unusual success stories!
58 FOUR SHIRES v MARCH 2012
relaxation at Defern Beauty
A MOTHER’S DAY TREAT AT HEART OF THE SHIRES
Exciting plans are afoot for the weekend of 17th & 18th March at Northamptonshire’s shopping village ‘Heart of the Shires’ for all mothers, daughters and sons. A professional photographer will be taking some beautiful photos of all mother-and-daughter and mother-and-son pairs who come down to Heart of the Shires, young or old, to take home as a keepsake. The photos are free of charge to shoppers, but any donations made will be given directly to local breast cancer charity Crazy Hats, a fantastic group of ladies who work tirelessly for their cause.
Make sure you bring your mother, daughter or son down on Mother’s Day weekend to Heart of the Shires to take part in the fun! Find them off the A5 near Weedon.
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