Rose Sunday

Today can be known as Rose Sunday. No, it`s not the day for planting roses, nor for pruning them.
I`ve just discovered that Mothering Sunday, can also be known as Rose Sunday. I rather like the sound of that title, because for those of us who are not mothers, the events that take place today in some worship can leave one feeling rather left out. This alternative title in fact comes from the fact that in some churches the purple robes of Lent are replaced by rose coloured ones and also refers to the tradition of posies of flowers being collected and distributed to all ladies in the service.

Another name for today is Refreshment Sunday or Simnel Sunday from the practice of baking Simnel cakes to celebrate the reuniting of families during the austerity of Lent. That makes me wonder – why do we not see Simnel cakes on sale in shops? Is it one thing that manufacturers actually haven`t thought of?

So, Mothering Sunday, Rose Sunday, Refreshment Sunday, Simnel Sunday are all vastly different from the commercial Mother`s Day, (which originated in America) which most people seem to know today as - a time when the shops try to persuade us to buy everything under the sun as a present for our mothers.