Mother's day gifts: presents for mothering sunday


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< Up	Ideas / Gifts / Mothers Day
Ideas for Mother's Day presents

In the UK, Mother's Day is on Sunday 18th March 2007 (the date changes each year).
In the US and many other countries it is celebrated on Sunday 13th May 2007.

The origin of Mother's Day

In the 17th century, apprentices, servants and maids were given a holiday so that they could return home to visit their mothers. This was on the fourth Sunday of Lent, which became known as "Mothering Sunday". People used to take a present with them - often a "mothering cake" (a type of fruitcake), a "simnel" (a pastry filled with fruit), or flowers.

A simnel cake ...

... is a traditional gift

The custom of Mothering Sunday died out in Britain, but a similar "Mother's Day" custom was established in the US in 1890 by a lady called Anna Jarvis. The custom became popular again in Britain after World War Two, following the example set by American soldiers who came to Britain during the war. In the UK it is celebrated on the traditional date of Mothering Sunday (the fourth Sunday of Lent), while in the US it is celebrated in May.

What to do for Mother's Day in the UK

Send a Mother's Day card to your mother, including a personal letter. You may also want to send some flowers or chocolates. If possible, go to visit her, or arrange a future meeting. You might take her out for a meal or cook something for her, or take her out to an event or show. Other possible gifts include fashion & accessories, beauty, jewellery, handbags, or a magazine subscription.

Card

Moonpig
Choose from a wide range of designs, or your own digital photo.
You can also change the text on the card to personalise it.

Chocolates

Hotel Chocolat or Thorntons
High quality chocolates which can be delivered either in the UK or worldwide.

Flowers

Eden4Flowers or Tesco
Flowers for your mother, delivered in the UK

Tickets to a show

Ticketmaster or TicketSwitch or London Theatre Direct
Buy tickets to go out to see a play, concert, dance performance, or to go to a special event in the UK.
London Theatre Direct offers combined tickets for a show in a London theatre and dinner in a restaurant.

Balloon

Eden4Flowers
Balloon in a box with a personalised message, sent to a UK address

Magazine subscription

Great Magazines
Why not give your mother an annual subscription to a magazine, which she can enjoy throughout the year?

Other Mother's Day gift guides

For more ideas for Mother's Day presents, see the following shopping guides:
John Lewis
Harrods
WH Smith

LINKS

Events and traditions in March: Ideas/Events/March
Theatre: Life/Entertainment/Theatre
Easter gift ideas: Ideas/Gifts/Easter

Home page: Home

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