Ideally, every day should be Mother’s Day as we give thanks to the person that brought us kicking and screaming – literally – into the world. Alas, it’s not. So, we all have to make do with just once a year stopping to remember the untold sacrifices and unconditional love that only a mother can provide.
In the UK, that day is next marked on March 11 2018. The day always falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, and three weeks before Easter Sunday. The middle Sunday of Lent has long been associated with mothers; as on that day – Laetare Sunday – it was traditional for people to return home to their mother church.
Mothering Sunday – or, the more common (and Americanised), Mother’s Day – was formalised in the UK in the early 20th Century when a vicar’s daughter named Constance Smith read a newspaper report of a campaign in America to celebrate such a day across the Atlantic.
Today, it’s estimated that close to £1.5billion was spent on Mother’s Day last year (including retail and non-retail – dining out for example – spend). It’s clearly big business. It is generally found that mothers aren’t bothered about receiving a lavish gift on the day. Rather, they’d happily spend time with their children instead.
Leading high street homewares retailer Robert Dyas has acknowledged this sentiment by flagging a range of inexpensive gifts that mums will appreciate – alongside a visit on March 11 of course.
“Nothing demonstrates the love between a mother and her child better than actually spending time together,” said Robert Dyas COO Rachel Brain, “Subsequently, this year, we’re highlighting affordable presents alongside gifts that children can customise and really let their creativity and personalities shine.”
