The Free Online Encyclopedia has the following, quoted without the references:
Mothering Sunday
March-April; fourth Sunday in Lent
It was the custom in 17th-century England for Christians to pay their respects on the
fourth Sunday in Lent to the "Mother Church" where they had been
baptized. Also known as Misers, or Mid-Lent, Sunday, this
day usually included a visit to one's parents—to "go a-mothering," as
it was called back then. It was common practice to bring a cake or
trinket for the mother of the family. In England the favorite gift was
the simnel cake, a saffron-flavored fruitcake topped with almond
paste. In the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, the
fourth Sunday in Lent is known as Laetare Sunday . The Introit of
the Mass begins with the word "Rejoice" (laetare in Latin), marking a
slight respite in the solemn Lenten season, hence the terms Mid-Lent
Sunday and Refreshment Sunday . Priests may wear rose-colored
vestments to mass, instead of the usual purple for Lent, so the day is
also called Rose Sunday. Also on this day the pope blesses the
Golden Rose, an ornament resembling a spray of roses, symbolizing
spiritual joy.
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