MOTHERING Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Although it is often called Mothers' Day, it has no connection with the American festival of that name.

Traditionally, it was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants, were given a day off to visit their mother and family.

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, or the main church or cathedral of the area. Inevitably the return to the mother church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away returned home.

Most historians think that it was the return to the mother church which led to the tradition of children, particularly those working as domestic servants, or as apprentices, being given the day off to visit their mother and family.

As they walked along the country lanes, children would pick wild flowers or violets to take to church or give to their mother as a small gift.

Today, it is a day when children give presents, flowers and home- made cards to their mothers.