For more than 500 years the fourth Sunday of Lent has been observed and celebrated in Europe. Often called Laetare Sunday, the more commonly known name is Mothering Sunday.
This ancient celebration (not to be confused with the American holiday Mothers Day) was also once known as “the Sunday of the Five Loaves,” from the traditional Gospel reading for the day.
Prior to the adoption of the modern “common” lectionaries, the Gospel reading for this Sunday in the Anglican, Roman Catholic, Western-rite Orthodox, and Old Catholic churches was the story of the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
Another name for this ancient religious ceremony is Rose Sunday because the golden rose sent by the popes to Catholic sovereigns, used to be blessed at this time.