Miod.Co How did Mothering Sunday grow slowly from ancient seasonal traditions?
If we look back beyond Britain’s church calendar, we find that this time of year has long been tied to renewal and maternal symbolism. In ancient Greece and Rome, spring festivals honoured maternal figures as life-givers: symbols of protection, fertility, and the steady forces that sustain life. These were not celebrations of individual mothers in the modern sense, but acknowledgements of nurture woven into the rhythm of land and season.
Recognition was seasonal. Simple. Intentional.
In Britain, that instinct gradually took shape as Mothering Sunday.
On the fourth Sunday of Lent, this was originally a day to return to one’s “mother church”. For many servants and apprentices working away from home, it became a rare opportunity to travel back to family.
They often brought something small and sweet, most commonly a Simnel cake, to share at the table.
A modest offering. A journey home. A thoughtful gesture.
Over time, the day became centred more directly on honouring mothers. Yet its essence remained the same: return, recognition, and shared food.
These are the qualities that still matter most.
Simplicity over spectacle.
Intention over routine.
A quiet acknowledgement of all that was given without being asked.
What is something you never thanked your mum for, but carry in your heart?
However you choose to mark the day, we hope it brings a moment of pause, and a gesture offered with care
In centuries past, that gesture was something sweet carried home by hand. Today, it might still be something simple — honey shared at the table, chosen slowly, and given with intention.
Warm wishes,
Andrew & Marta
and the Bees 🐝
*How about adding a link to a Simnel cake recipe using honey? Example: https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/pear-apricot-simnel-cake/
