Most Sundays
churchgoers worship at their nearest parish or 'daughter
church'. But centuries ago it was considered important
for people to return to their home or 'mother' church
once a year. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone
would visit their 'mother' church - the main church
or cathedral of the area. This became an occasion for
family reunions when children who were working away
returned home. Remember, it was quite normal for children
as young as ten to leave home for work. Many historians
think that it was this return to the 'mother' church
that led to the tradition of working children being
given the day off. As they walked along the lanes to
church, children would pick wild flowers to their mother.
Mothering Sunday was also once known as ‘Refreshment
Sunday’ as the fasting rules for Lent were relaxed
that day. Lessons on this mid-Lent Sunday made a point
of food. The Gospel reading from the New Testament told
the story of how Jesus fed 5000 people with only five
small loaves and two small fish.
The Simnel cake is especially associated with Mothering
Sunday. It’s a fruit cake with two layers of almond
paste, one on top and one in the middle. The cake is
made with 11 balls of marzipan on top, representing
the 11 disciples - Judas is excluded. Sugar violets
are also often added. The name Simnel probably comes
from the Latin word simila,
which means a fine wheat flour usually used for baking
a cake. According to one legend, a man called Simon
and his wife Nell argued over whether the cake for Mothering
Sunday should be baked or boiled. In the end they did
both, so the cake was named after both of them: Sim-Nel. |
