British Mother's Day Mystery - Why It's NOT in May?

3,246 views ・ 2025-03-27

English Like A Native


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

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Hmm.
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Did you know that Mother's Day in the UK is not celebrated in May?
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In fact, it's coming up this Sunday.
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But why do Brits celebrate Mother's Day earlier than the
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rest of most of the world?
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And why does the date change every single year?
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Well, let's unravel this little mystery together.
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In the uk, we don't just call it Mother's Day.
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We can also call it Mothering Sunday.
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And unlike the American version, which is fixed to the second
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Sunday in May hours moves around.
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That's because in the UK mothering Sunday is connected to Easter,
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which follows the lunar calendar.
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So British Mother's Day falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent.
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Originally, it had nothing to do with mums at all.
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It was a religious festival where people would return to their mother church.
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That's the main church in their local area.
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It was often the only day off for servants and apprentices in a whole year, so
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they'd use that chance to visit home.
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Over time, this tradition transformed into what we now know as Mother's Day.
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A chance to say thank you to the amazing women who raised us with a card, a box
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of chocolates, some flowers, or even a well deserved cup of tea in bed.
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Let's now look at some common vocabulary that you might use on this special day.
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Firstly, let me mention the most important word mum.
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Mum.
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In British English we spell this with A-U-M-U-M, and the pronunciation of
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that middle vowel is ah, ah, mum, or in Northern English you might hear mum.
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Mom.
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Hey mom.
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Next is to spoil someone.
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This means to treat someone with extra kindness.
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Treat them like they are extra special.
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Usually for a special occasion you might spoil them.
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Here is one of my favorites.
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Breakfast in bed.
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Breakfast in bed is simply serving someone their morning breakfast while
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they are still in bed as a treat.
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Although I have to be honest these days, I would be more concerned
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about crumbs and spillages in my bed, so I'd actually be happier to come
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down to the breakfast table next.
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A bunch of flowers.
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This is just the most common way to talk about a bouquet.
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So if someone has gifted you a bouquet or you are thinking of getting a bouquet
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for someone that you love, your mom perhaps, or your wife, then you could just
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simply use the term a bunch of flowers.
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The next few items of vocabulary are my favorites.
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First it is.
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Take it easy.
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Take it.
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Easy means relax.
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Slow down.
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Don't stress.
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Don't worry.
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Just relax.
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Take it easy.
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It's something that you'd say to somebody when you want them to relax.
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Just take it easy.
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Or you might decide yourself today.
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I'm going to take it easy.
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Very similar to that, is to take a load off.
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To take a load off means to sit down and relax.
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The idea that when you are standing is that you are holding weight, you are
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holding a load, and being told to take a load off means sit down, take a load off.
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Next we have another similar phrase, which is to put your feet up.
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To put your feet up.
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To put your feet up is another expression used to describe relaxing.
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The idea that someone might sit back in a chair and put their feet up.
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Ah, do you like my socks?
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Da.
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I love my colorful woolly socks.
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And finally.
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Quality time.
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Quality time.
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This is special time that you use to focus on relationship building.
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So we often spend quality time.
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With someone special.
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And how about you?
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Do you celebrate Mother's Day in your country?
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If so, what day is it usually on?
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And what are some of the traditions that you follow?
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Please let me know in the comments.
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And if you enjoyed this video, then please take a second to leave a like.
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For more English lessons and British culture, please also subscribe.
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Now we're also coming up to Easter, so if you want to learn more about
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Easter in the uk then I have a video for you to watch just here.
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I'll also link in the description as well.
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Until then, take very good care and goodbye.
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