"MOTHERING SUNDAY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18512, 24 March 1922, Page 7

"MOTHERING SUNDAY.

An old church custom known as “Mother* tj ing Sunday” is being revived. The tice consists of families meeting together i on the fourth Sunday in Lent in order that they might go, as a family, to church, for : thanksgiving. It is also an ocoasujJT'fqr -j the members of the family to pay a tribute to their mother and home. Gifts of ‘ chiefly violets, and a simnel cake are made - to the mother, and the absent member* of the family send similar gifts to her. la , the case of a deceased mother ’violets’ am : laid on her grave. This gathering of the ‘ family in the home is symbolical of the | Church as the family of God. The Churca ■ as a family is also emphasised, likewise the . nation and the Motherland, and “Jerusalem, which is above, the Mother of us all.” Hec . Majesty the Queen and Queen Alexandra • have shown their interest in this ancietn* custom by accepting gifts and sharing $ the symbolising of the day with \tnei£ people. A “Mothering Sunday” play, and tableau were staged at St"'MarxV Hall, Green Island, last _ night before large audience. The opening scene showed . preparations for the celebration of ting’ ' feast. Another scene pictured a yqanjr man in a distant land dreaming of both* and mother! The procession which followed was composed cf all who took part in this play—cross-bcarer. acolytes, those caxryfai' symbols representing the Church, baitnepf bearers, etc. Tlie banner-bearers carried j banners representing St. George ppoecntnijpj < his banner to an English knight,, St : Andrew to a Scottish knight, and St. Kfc-' rick to an Irish knight. A fourth boiiingr ■ showed all three knights presenting thej* ; banners to Mother Church, who sewa thein into the Union Jack. Thus by "play, pro- . cession, and tableau lessons of loyalty ,loi •; mother and home, to the Mothcrlarid, to Mother Church are impressed upod cM audience. The patrons of the plajri w*n» i not slow in showing their appredatipfi ’pT the presentation. The ceremopy bmw' : with the blessing of the vicar and. m of the National Anthem. , ,