Mothering Sunday (Laetare Sunday) · Yekshanbeh-ye Madaran

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

Mothering Sunday falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter. It is Laetare Sunday, named from the first word of its Latin entrance chant, "Rejoice", a pause in the Lenten fast. Traditionally people went back on this day to their "mother church", and domestic servants were given the day off to visit it. Constance Penswick Smith revived it in 1913, and in the UK, Ireland and some Commonwealth countries it is now the day for mothers, with flowers, cards and simnel cake.