Leap Years and Mothers..

Today's the 29th of February and as ever there's much in the media about what today might mean. The BBC is wondering who owns today? And the four-yearly ritual of trotting out the tradition that this is the only day on which a woman can propose marriage will be all over the media. As Simpson and Roud observe in their Dictionary of Folklore:

it is probably true to say that younger English people would not be aware of the belief if the media did not run features on the subject every fourth February

'The Ladies' Privilege' is said to have originated with St Bridgit, who haggled St Patrick down from once every seven years to once every four. There is no evidence of any legal basis at any time for a penalty for the man refusing, despite myths to the contrary!

Today's also the day to try not to forget Mother's Day, if your family is one that marks it. This is also the subject of a number of myths. Ronald Hutton convincingly sets forward a geographical basis for an English custom called 'Mothering Sunday', to the west of the English Midlands, stretching south to Devon and Cornwall and north to Lancashire. The earliest references to this are from seventeenth century Worcestershire and Gloucestershire and suggest a visiting custom, bringing food to mothers, especially widowed mothers at a difficult time of year. The warmer weather after Winter made travelling more possible; the colder weather through Winter made want more likely.

The food brought to ease this want appears to have been a Simnel Cake, made from the best flour. These days, those who make Simnel Cakes generally produce them for Easter Sunday - packed full of leftover Christmas mincemeat and lumps of marzipan. We'll be making one for Easter.

The modern Mother's Day bears only a peripheral relationship to the older 'Mothering Sunday' traditions. It has its origins in the USA and more specifically in the devotion of a Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia towards her own mother. Her agitating for a day set aside to celebrate motherhood bore success in 1913 when the American government set aside the second Sunday in May. This custom came over to Britain during the Second World War in all likelihood, when American troops were stationed here. The commercial promotion of the day in the UK led to its adoption nationwide during the 1950s. A lingering memory of 'Mothering Sunday' influenced its date here and probably eased its acceptance as a domestic custom.

Do buy a card or some flowers if you've still got time - or at least make a note to call your mum on Sunday..