Make Sunday a special day FOR MOTHER

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 534, 3 May 1994, Page 8

Make Sunday a

special day FOR MOTHER

Mother's Day, celebrated this Sunday 8 May, had its beginnings in sixteenth century England. Known as 'Mothering Sunday' and also 'MidLent Sunday', the origins of the celebration are somewhat obscure. The most likely explanation is that young people, who had grown up enough to work away from their home villages, would on this day have leave to visit their 'Mother Church.', taking the opportunity to visit their families as well. In the 17th Century, the poet Robert Herrick referred to the custom of taking a cake for Mother on the day ... I'll to thee a simnel bring, 'Gainst thou go amothering, So that, when she blesses thee, Half that blessing thou'lt give me. Simnel cakes were well-known and can still be found in Comish baker's shops.

Another popular dish was 'furmety', made of wheat, spice, sugar, raisins and milk all boiled together, and sometimes laced with rum. To the north and in Scotland the day was called 'Carling Sunday', because of the flat cakes eaten at the time, which were made of steeped peas fried in butter - the dried peas were known as 'carlings'. Another traditional gift was a posy of flowers - violets were the popular choice as they grew wild - with the tradition of giving flowers remaining ever popular in modem times. The gift of flowers can be made even more special by taking a leaf from the Victorians' 'Book of Memories'. According to the book, it was believed, long ago, that each growing plant was under the dominion of One or other of the planets, but also that every plant had a symbolic meaning: so that giving flowers became, as it were, a way of conveying a subtle message from the giver to the lucky recipient. All white flowers and cool plants such as lettuce, were thought to belong to the Moon, and signified purity and grace, while orange and yellow marigolds, were said to belong to the Sun. Other messages were more subtle: for lovers, alyssum for 'worth beyond beauty', periwinkle for 'sweet remembrances', etc. Being presented with a bouquet of bold bright tulips was a clear declaration of love. Using the Language of Flowers is an oldfashioned notion, but

one that could have a modern application on Mother's Day. Another is to have a bouquet made up using the specific flowers of each star sign: Sagittarians and Scorpions have the wonderfully bright flowers anemones and gerberas respectively. Leos are lucky enough to be represented by the popular carnation, while Mums born under Aquarius Tum to Page 10

Mahe Simday a speciaL day fon Morhen

FROMPAGE9 may have to find a substitute for the springblooming daffodil - their flower symbol. The chrysanthemum finds itself a star plant for Virgos and a star

flower for Capricorns. Alstroemeria is the flower of Geminis, while Libras have the dahlia, and the cyclamen as their plant. Most fortunate of all must be those

Cancerians who have the rose as their flower (who could resist getting a dozen?) Irises for Taurus, freesias for Pisces and tulips for Aries make up the rest of the set.