THE HISTORY OF MOTHERING SUNDAY – 19th MARCH 2023…

Like many traditions and festivities, Mothering Sunday began with a religious purpose. Held on the fourth Sunday in Lent, exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday, it was a originally a day to honour and give thanks to the Virgin Mary, also known as Mother Mary. Such celebrations required people to visit their ‘mother’ church – the main church or cathedral in a family’s area.

The spread of Christianity throughout Europe in the 16th century increased the celebrations and firmly put Mothering Sunday on the calendar. It was believed to be essential for people to return to their home ‘mother’ church to make it a true family honoured occasion. The gatherings reunited families and gave children who worked as domestic servants, or as apprentices away from home (from as early as ten years old), the opportunity to have the day off to join their family and see their mother.

Throughout the year in England and Ireland people would regularly and devoutly visit their nearest chapel, their ‘daughter’ church, whereas on Mothering Sunday, as well as baptisms, people would visit their ‘mother’ church loaded with offerings of thanks. Such celebrations were similar to, and most likely adopted, the Roman ceremonies of the Mother Goddess. The religious day increased its scope from thanking Mother Mary to a ‘mother’ church celebration and finally opened up as an occasion to thank and appreciate all mothers; thus creating Mothering Sunday.

Whilst the day had a firm following for many centuries since the 16th century, by 1935 it started to decrease in popularity and was celebrated less and less in Europe, until WWII. The Americans and Canadians celebrated Mother’s Day during the war, feeling a crucial need to give thanks to their mothers whilst away at war. The Brits and other Europeans followed their comrades and they too gave thanks to their mothers; since then it earns pride of place on the UK calendar.

Source: Find Me A Gift

Advertisement

CORNISH PASTY WEEK – 27th FEBRUARY 2023…

Cornish Pasty Week returns this year with a brand new initiative raising funds to help alleviate food poverty.

Anyone making or selling genuine Cornish pasties is invited to participate by agreeing to donate either a specific amount of money from every Cornish pasty sold during the week, or a fixed lump sum of their choice, to Devon and Cornwall Food Action, a local charity helping to combat food poverty.  

The minimum donation is 1p per Cornish pasty sold.

The initiative is driven by the Cornish Pasty Association, the organisation behind Cornish Pasty Week. Chairman Jason Jobling explained the thinking around the new initiative:

“For generations the Cornish pasty has been an inherent part of our culture and heritage in this part of the world and, with many people facing difficult challenges right now, this feels like an important moment to show how much the Cornish pasty community can do to support those in need.”

Devon and Cornwall Food Action is not a food bank; it is a registered charity that redistributes surplus food.  As such it already works with some of the county’s pasty producers who donate their excess or mis-shaped products.  It relies on a fantastic band of volunteers who do all the work involved, but inevitably there is also a need for cash to cover the overhead costs and this is where the Cornish Pasty Association is hoping to make an impact.

If you make or sell genuine Cornish pasties and would like to be part of this initiative, all you need to do is contact the Cornish Pasty Association, who will send more details.

Email: info@cornishpastyassociation.co.uk

Tel: 01872 865101

Source: www.cornishpastyassociation.co.uk