AUNT HILDA’S LETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 365, 5 March 1932, Page 18 (Supplement)

AUNT HILDA’S LETTER.

MOTHERING SUNDAY.

Reviving Another Quaint Custom. JJEAR CHILDREN,— # Recently we revived the pretty old custom of St Valentine’s Day, and for to-morrow I have all the details of yet another even more delightful custom, and one which ought ne\ r er to have been allowed to slide, and that is Mothering Sunday. It originated in 1864 on the 6th of March, also a Sunday, and was the fourth Sunday in Lent, or mid-Lent Sunday. Life in those olden days was much more, harsh and unkind than it is now, but it was softened and relieved by these simple but affectionate customs. Modern people have learnt to dispense with them, but I think they are the losers. » On mid-Lent Sunday, it was a practice for all the members of the family, especially those out working and away from the family home, to pay a visit to the mother especially, or to go, as it was called, a-mother-ing” They took with them a little token of their affection such as a trinket or a cake. In different parts of England they had special dishes to eat for this occasion, such as “ furmety,” which was something like wheat grains boiled in milk and sugared and spiced. In other parts they ate steeped or soaked pease fried in butter with pepper and salt. When this was pressed into pancakes, they were called “ Carlings.” But by far the commonest form of “ goody ” was the Simnel cake. One old recipe makes this cake like a rich plum pudding, boils it and then covers it with almond paste, but there are many different methods. Various stories are told about the origin of the word “ Simnel,” but they are not reliable enough to give you for a safe guide. Now in your own homes, your mother is there all the time, watching over you, worrying over you and sacrificing her life working for you. She is always there and you take her for granted, just a part of the furniture or the things to eat. I know we cannot put young heads on old shoulders, but we can teach children to think and to appreciate. Not until you have homes and families of your own will you- ever guess what your parents ha\ T e done for you, and you can show your appreciation ever so simply and sweetly. You can make a point of remembering mother’s birthday, her Christmas, and you can revive this dear, quaint old custom of Mothering Sunday. You can proffer her a flower from your garden ,or one sweet saved from those that have been given to you. It is not the thing that is valued; it is the thought, and you l are not likely to see how very much Mother will appreciate it; you will only see the overflow of feeling; what she really thinks and feels is buried too deeply in her large and understanding heart for the world to see. She may appear dowdy or a bit old-fashioned. Why? Because she has spent the money on smarter clothes for you. She may be wrinkled and troubled looking. Why? Because she thinks so much about all you little ones. She may not care for the brilliance and outside show of smart society. Why? Because in her wisdom she has learnt to sift the wheat from the chaff, and she prefers the things that matter to those that do not. And we could go on talking like this all over the page, but always we would end up just where we started, that our first, last and best friend is always our mother. So let us, little people, be kind and thoughtful while we have her. You know lots of people wait till some one they care for is dead before they show their love, and then they pile the flowers and wreaths high on the mortal remains; but isn’t it better and wiser and happier to proffer the flowers while the eyes we love are here with us to look at them and enjoy them? Now, each little member, take your “ Mothering Sunday ” gift in tomorrow, just a blossom or a simple offering and see the glad sparkle in mother’s eyes, and perhaps, too, see the furth’e tear she will try so braY T ely to hide. Thank you again for all your help and inspiration. You can see by the page and the lists of new members that it takes far, far more than the depression to put the good old Circle down and out. We are still sailing as bravely as ever in the teeth of the winds of ad\ r ersity, and we will continue to do so, for we stand for the ideals of life that are really of \ r alue to you all. LoY’e to everybody—