Mothering Sunday began as a church tradition in 16th – century England, and it’s always been tied to getting home, being together, and sharing a special Sunday meal. This year, make it easy: bring mum (or the person who’s “like a mum”) to Fish Borough Market for a relaxed Sunday lunch in the heart of Borough Market. Reserve your table today
In the UK, Mother’s Day is rooted in the 16th-century custom of returning to your “mother church” on the fourth Sunday of Lent – often the one rare day when people working away from home could reunite with family. Over time, that homecoming became more directly associated with celebrating mums, and the day commonly included a special roast lunch with mum treated as the guest of honour.
The date moves each year because it’s linked to Lent and the timing of Easter, which is why UK Mother’s Day doesn’t match the US date. In the early 20th century, Mother’s Day in the US was championed by Anna Jarvis and became a national holiday in 1914, and the modern, more secular version of the celebration later influenced how Britain observes the day too.
Traditions: cake, flowers, and a “day off”
Mothering Sunday was historically a moment of “refreshment” during Lent, so food traditions grew around it – most famously simnel cake, a light fruit cake with marzipan, traditionally topped with 11 marzipan balls (symbolising the disciples excluding Judas). Other old-school treats mentioned in historical accounts include fig pie and “mothering buns” (often associated with iced buns).
Flowers also became part of the tradition – originally gathered on the way to church and given as small posie – before evolving into the modern gifting we recognise today. However you mark it, the throughline is simple: appreciation, togetherness, and doing something that feels like a treat.
Mothering Sunday at Fish Borough Market
If the best gift is time together (plus a meal no one has to cook), join us for Sunday lunch at Fish Borough Market in Borough Market. We’re open on Sundays, so it’s an easy plan for families meeting in central London – whether you’re doing a full market stroll or just coming straight to the table.
Book your table
Mothering Sunday is one of those dates that fills up quickly, so book ahead and make a day of it – good food, good company, and the Borough Market buzz all around you. Who are you celebrating this Mothering Sunday: mum, grandma, or a mother figure? Reserve your table today.
