When the Roman Empire and Europe converted to Christianity during the Roman occupation of the Britain (312AD) traditional pagan celebrations of motherhood along with the Roman's own Hilaria festival, which celebrated the Mother Goddess Cybele, became part of the liturgical calandar as Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent to honour the Virgin Mary and Mother Church.
By the sixteenth century anyone who visited their mother church on Laetare Sunday was said to have gone "a-mothering" and this is the likely forbear of the term Mothering Sunday. Later still Mothering Sunday was a day when domestic servants were given the day off to visit their parents.
During the 1920s the tradition of Mothering Sunday had lapsed both here and throughout Europe but was revived during World War 2 by American and Canadian servicemen who celebrated Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May. Mother's Day here reverted to the traditional fourth Sunday in Lent and was celebrated with renewed vigour.
As a direct result of all this, instead of enjoying the early Spring sunshine on the banks of the Warwickshire Avon, I was at home spending the day with my family on the final Sunday of the river season.
As is often the case conditions came right just in time for the season's climax with just a shower or two of rain during the week and a couple of warmer nights leading into the weekend. I expect to hear shortly, through the angling press and the blog's of others, of bumper catches from the rivers over the past weekend.
I propose that in future we move Mother's Day celebrations to the second Sunday in May in order to fall into line with the USA (and let's face it we always do!).
Fathers Day (Brainchild of Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910), on the other hand, is a marvellous tradition and takes place on June 20th.
By the sixteenth century anyone who visited their mother church on Laetare Sunday was said to have gone "a-mothering" and this is the likely forbear of the term Mothering Sunday. Later still Mothering Sunday was a day when domestic servants were given the day off to visit their parents.
During the 1920s the tradition of Mothering Sunday had lapsed both here and throughout Europe but was revived during World War 2 by American and Canadian servicemen who celebrated Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May. Mother's Day here reverted to the traditional fourth Sunday in Lent and was celebrated with renewed vigour.
As a direct result of all this, instead of enjoying the early Spring sunshine on the banks of the Warwickshire Avon, I was at home spending the day with my family on the final Sunday of the river season.
As is often the case conditions came right just in time for the season's climax with just a shower or two of rain during the week and a couple of warmer nights leading into the weekend. I expect to hear shortly, through the angling press and the blog's of others, of bumper catches from the rivers over the past weekend.
I propose that in future we move Mother's Day celebrations to the second Sunday in May in order to fall into line with the USA (and let's face it we always do!).
Fathers Day (Brainchild of Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910), on the other hand, is a marvellous tradition and takes place on June 20th.
Steve, like you I stared longingly out of the window at what was by far the most beautiful afternoon weather-wise this year (funny that eh? - damn you weather gods). I'd given up hope of a final fling by lunchtime after a conversation that went roughly along the lines of;
ReplyDelete"But it's mothers day!"
"But it's the last day of the season!"
"So you're not fishing on Tuesday?"
"Of course I am!"
"So how can today be the last day of the season!?"
"Forget it......."
FAIL.
I know, I know, I tried explaining the history of the close season and which waters it now applies to, I might as well have been explaining the offside rule!
ReplyDelete