Gettin’ Carried Away

I’ve always said that people should immerse themselves in another culture. This includes celebrating another country’s holidays, as well.

While I did not live in England until the second half of the year (September to December 2006), that does not mean that I didn’t get into the English culture completely. I learned a lot about holidays like Guy Fawke’s Day and Boxing Day, and I even became aware of the various Bank holidays that occur throughout each year. But there’s one holiday in the United Kingdom that falls on, well, today! And I’d like to celebrate it here in the United States.

~* Mom & Me, shortly after my return from the UK in 2006 *~

Like Mother’s Day here in the United States, Mothering Sunday is a holiday celebrated within the United Kingdom where children pay respect to their mothers. The difference is that Mothering Sunday in England is a more Christian holiday that is celebrated on the fourth Sunday during Lent, whereas Mother’s Day in America, while inspired by the British holiday, is not associated with religion and is always celebrated on the second Sunday in May.

One tradition of Mothering Sunday in England is baking Simnel cakes. It’s basically a fruit cake, which boasts a layer of marzipan on top, decorated with 11 marzipan balls. These balls represent the 11 apostles, as one of them (Judas) betrayed Jesus. This resulted in the crucifixion of Jesus and his subsequent rising from the dead, which is what Christians celebrate on Easter Sunday.

I’d be lost without my mom, my #1 fan. Just because I love her so much, I’d like to celebrate Mother’s Day twice this year. So here goes Round One: Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!