Why scented narcissi are the perfect flowers for Mother’s Day

The tradition of Mothering Sunday goes back to the Middle Ages when on the middle Sunday of Lent people would, ‘go a mothering’, meaning they would visit their mother church. This was a church they had a close connection to, such as where they were baptised or the cathedral associated with their families parish church. It became traditional for servants to be given the day off to travel home to their mother church and as this would normally be where their family lived, it was an opportunity to visit their own Mother and enjoy a family celebration. This 4th Sunday in Lent was also known as Refreshment Sunday when the austerity and fasting of Lent could be broken for a day and it became traditional to give your Mother cake or wild spring flowers when visiting. 

Over time the tradition faded until it was revived in the early part of the 20th century due to a campaign by Constance Adelaide Smith. Constance was inspired by Ann Jarvis who had introduced the idea of Mother’s Day to the USA where it is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. Constance had grown up in the high Anglican Christian tradition and was keen on keeping links to the original religious roots of the celebration. Her idea was that it should be a day to celebrate all things related to mothers - the religious in terms of mother churches and Mary mother of Jesus, actual Mums, and Mother Earth.

So no matter what you choose to call the day, Mother’s Day, Mothering Sunday or even ‘going a mothering’  and no matter what form of Mother you choose to celebrate, a box of scented spring flowers sustainably grown in the UK in a way that respects Mother Earth has to be the perfect gift for all mums.