Mothering Sunday or Mother’s Day?

During the 20th century the two became intertwined yet Mothering Sunday is a Christian festival.

Mothering Sunday is always on a different date as it falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent – the earliest it can be is March 1 and the latest April 4; this year it is on March 18 – don’t forget!

As the Roman Empire and Europe converted to Christianity, the day was part of the Christian calendar to honour the Virgin Mary and the ‘mother church’.

During the 16th century people returned to their mother church for a service to be held on this Sunday. Later it became custom for domestic servants to be given a day off to visit their mother church usually with their own mothers and family.

In America, Mother’s Day became popular after a campaign by Ana Jarvis who campaigned to have the day recognised and in 1914 President Woodrow made Mother’s Day into a national holiday to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday in May and children give gifts to their mothers.

And in the UK the two celebrations became intertwined; here in Derbyshire there will be many services at churches to mark Mothering Sunday.

Today there are a range of religions practiced in the city with the 2001 census reporting 77 per cent of the population being Christian compared with only 71.7 per cent in England as a whole. All other religions together account for less than one per cent of the county’s population compared with six per cent nationally.

The proportion of people who have no religion (14.7 per cent) is similar to the national average (14.6 per cent). This was the first time that a question on religion had been included in a census. The question was voluntary and 7.7 per cent of people in Derbyshire declined to answer compared with 7.5 per cent nationally

Here are 10 ways other than buying the traditional chocolates or flowers in which you can treat your mum in Derbyshire on March 18.

1. Dine like an earl! Horsley Lodge was originally built by the Earl of Stainsbury in 1850 for his son. Since being bought by the Salt family, it’s been restored and turned into an award winning golf course. Plus there’s a restaurant, The Highlander, which it describes as ‘serving home from home local produce’. On March 18 there’s a roast dinner menu with full waiter service costing £19.95 per adult for three courses and £9.95 for children. Lunch on Mother’s Day is served between 12pm and 4pm. Booking advised.

Horsley Lodge Golf Club, Smalley Mill Road, Horsley, Derbyshire, DE21 5BL T: 01332 780838

2. Whisk mum into the air! – Take a trip to the Heights of Abraham via cable car and enjoy stunning views of the Derwent Valley and surrounding Peak District. Take a peek inside the caverns and let the children enjoy the adventure park. Plus on March 18 there’s a special Sunday roast for £6.50 with a choice of two roasts or a vegetarian option. Tickets cost £13 for adults, child £9 (under five’s free – one per adult) with family ticket £39 for two adults and two children.

The Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, DE4 3PD T: 01629 582365

3. Take a ride through time – Take a tram through the cobbles of a period street, past the original facadesof historic buildings before heading up the valley to enjoy spectacular views. Crich Tramway Village - home of the National Tramway Museum - promises ‘an ideal day out in the heart of Derbyshire’. It’s also dog friendly so all the family can enjoy a visit. Tickets £12 (13 on premier days) child four to 15 £7 (8). Family two adults/three children £35 (£39)

Crich Tramway Village, Crich, Derbyshire, DE4 5DP T: 01773 854321

4. Eat like a Queen! – Her Majesty dined at the Opulence Restaurant at the Cathedral Quarter Hotel in Derby in April 2010. You could treat your mum to a three course lunch just like the Queen, who personally thanked head chef Dean Crews after the meal. To reach the restaurant walk up a grand sweeping staircase with original stained glass windows and Scaglioli banisters. Inside there’s Italian glass chandeliers, designer fabrics and flock wall paper. On Mother’s Day there’s also a Bar Sixteen Cocktail School giving mums the chance to compete with sons and daughters with ready, steady shake. School and Prix Fixe Dinner in the restaurant is £45pp.

Opulence Restaurant, Cathedral Quarter Hotel, 16 St Mary’s Gate, Derby, DE1 3JR T: 01332 546080

5. Take a walk on the wildside – Carsington Water Visitor Centre is offering a Wildlife Discovery Day for Mother’s Day. Make mum a wildlife gift, explore wildlife and flowers with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Suitable for families with children two to 12 years. The event is free but there is small charge for some activities. It runs from 11am to 4pm.

Carsington Water Visitor Centre, Carsington Water, Carsington, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1ST T: 01773 881188

6. Traditional Roast dinner – the Mundy Arms in Mackworth has created a special menu for March 18 with six roasts to choose from and all served with it says: “crispy goose fat roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and lashings of gravy”. Sounds scrummy – and vegetarians aren’t forgotten either with a Baked Nut Wellington also on the menu. Two courses are £16.99pp and three courses £19.99. This Chef & Brewer pub describes itself as ‘a charming, traditional pub restaurant in contemporary style’.

The Mundy Arms, 95 Ashbourne Road, Mackworth, Derbyshire, DE22 4LZ T: 01332 896285.

7. Treat mum to a spa – Losehill House is a four star hotel in the heart of the Peak District National Park. It boasts the award winning Orangery Restaurant and Thalgo Spa so you could combine mum’s treat with a family meal! A host of packages are available at this hotel. It is independently owned and managed, is listed in the 2012 Michelin Guide and has been award the Peak District Environmental Quality Mark.

Losehill House Hotel & Spa, Lose Hill Lane, Edale Road, Hope, Derbyshire, S33 6AF T: 01433 621219

8. Follow in Hollywood’s footsteps – pay a visit to Kedleston Hall and see where The Duchess was filmed. The National Trust describes Kedleston as a ‘stunning example of the work of architect Robert Adam’. The Curzon family has lived at the Hall since the 12th century. The National Trust has produced a special trail to give you the chance to following in the footsteps of The Duchess and visitors can see inside the Hall, explore the parkland and discover the Eastern Museum with its treasure trove of objects acquired by Lord Curzon, Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905.

Kedleston Hall, near Quarndon, Derby, Derbyshire, DE22 5JH T: 01332 842191

9. Mothering Sunday menu – The Plough Inn is a privately owned 16th century Inn on the banks of the River Derwent set in nine acres of land which boasts a Mothering Sunday menu. It includes an ‘original bakewell pudding with Mum’s famous custard and poached blueberries’ – mmmm mouthwatering and actually the market town of Bakewell which is famous for the puddings isn’t far away. Main course is £15, two courses £21 and three courses £27.

The Plough Inn, Hathersage, Leadmill Bridge, Hathersage, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S32 1BA T: 01433 650319.

10. The 19th hole! Try Morley Hayes and overlook the parkland Golf Course while you dine on food featured in the special Mothering Sunday menu . It’s a historic site as Morley Hayes was the original estate farm next to Morley Manor which was first mentioned in 1002. The Morley Hayes Hotel was opened in 2005 by the Duke of Gloucester.

Morley Hayes, Main Road, Morley, Derbyshire, DE7 6DG T: 01332 780480