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 16the 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 Bristol there will be many services at churches to mark Mothering Sunday.

Plus few may be aware that Bristol is the cradle of the early Methodist movement. The New Room in Bristol is the oldest Methodist Chapel in the world – originally built in 1739. It was built and used by John Wesley.

Today there are a range of religions practiced in the city with the 2001 census reporting 60 per cent of the population being Christian.

Here are ten ways other than buying the traditional chocolates or flowers in which you can treat your mum!

1) Adopt an Animal - take a walk on the wild side at Bristol Zoo and see the mums and babies in the natural world or give your mum a gift to treasure as well as helping the work at the Zoo. They offer gift box adoptions which include an adoption gift pack including a cuddly toy or virtual adoptions.

Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA T: 0117 974 7399

Open daily from 9am to 5.30pm in peak season from March 26 and close at 5pm during off peak. Closed on Christmas Day. Last entry is an hour before closing and animal houses close half an hour before closing time.

2) Enjoy a National Trust treat - visit Tyntesfield on March 18 and there's a special Mother's Day lunch menu in the Cow Barn restaurant or you can book a cosy corner in the Pavilion Tea Room and indulge in tea and cake after a walk around the newly restored walled garden.

Booking advisable on 01275 461965. Tyntesfield boasts a Victorian country house created by William Gibbs, who built his fortune on fertiliser. The house has a new roof, is free of scaffolding after a massive restoration project and the Home Farm Visitor Centre is open.

Tyntesfield, Wraxall, Bristol, BS48 1NX T: 01275 461 900

The estate and gardens are open every day. The house is open every Saturday to Wednesday from March 10 and during February half term.

3) Contemporary Japanese Auteurs Season – if you fancy something different then the Watershed is showing I Just Didn't Do It (15) on Mother's Day at 3pm. It is described as ''this sobering, angry film is based on the real life phenomenon of men groping women on Japan's notoriously packed commuter trains''.

Cost £7.20 full £5.60 concessions.

Watershed, 1 Canon's Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5TX T: 0117 927 6444. Box Office: 0117 927 5100

4) Trip to the Theatre - if mum loves the theatre then there are plenty of shows to choose from in Bristol. The Bristol Hippodrome has just announced Lion King is coming to the city in the late summer – the first time this West End phenomena has been seen outside of London; but if mum can't wait until then Top Hat opens on March 21 starring Tom Chambers and Summer Strallen in this dance musical. The theatre is celebrating its centenary in 2012. Or at The Bristol Old Vic from March 20 to March 24 is The National Theatre's Connections Festival 2012. An outreach project it commissions new work from established writers and supports the plays in productions from youth and school groups.

The Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustine's Parade, Bristol, BS1 4UZ T: 0844 871 7627 customer service.

The Bristol Old Vic, King Street, Bristol, BS1 4ED T: 0117 949 3993 or box office 0117 987 7877

5) Clifton Suspension Bridge - take mum for a walk across Brunel's stunning masterpiece which spans the Avon Gorge and is the symbol of the city. There's a visitor centre with lots of information on the bridge and then maybe head for the Avon Gorge Hotel for a special Mother's Day lunch. The hotel overlooks the grade one listed bridge.

Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bridge Road, Leigh Woods, Bristol, BS8 3PA T: 0117 974 4664

Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion Hill, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4LD T: 0117 9738 955

6) Steam and Cuisine - enjoy a train journey from yesteryear aboard the Avon Valley Railway in the refurbished dining coaches with mouthwatering menu. The three hour journey consists of six mile round trips from Bitton Station and bookings for March 18 cost £35 per adult and £22.50 for a child.

Avon Valley Railway, Bitton Station, Bath Road, Bitton, Bristol, BS30 6HD T: 0117 932 5538

7) Sporting treat - For Bristol City supporting mums, there's a treat in store at Ashton Gate, home of the Championship team.  The club is offering a two course lunch at the Stadium for mums including a free glass of wine for the mum in the party with special messages shown on screens throughout the afternoon.

Mother's Day at Ashton Gate Stadium, Ashton Road, Bristol, BS3 2EJ T: 08446 626515. Cost is £24.95pp for adults and children under 12 £12.50 with booking advised on 0117 963 0680

8) Spa treat - many of Bristol's hotels offer a spa treat for mum but we've picked out the Lido as people have been visiting this Clifton spa since Victorian times but has 21st century facilities. Features a pool, hot tub, steam room, sauna, spa, restaurant bar and terrace. It has a special offer for March with a Mother's Day package for the whole month which includes full use of the pool, sauna, steam room, hot tub plus a one hour spa treatment. The £60pp treat is available Monday to Friday from March 1 to 30.

Lido, Oakfield Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2BJ T: 0117 933 9530

9) City sightseeing - discover Bristol as you may not have seen it before aboard an open top bus. It has the VisitEngland's accreditation of Quality Assured Visitor Attraction which said: "City Sightseeing Bristol provides a very good tour of the city and its boundaries which combines to deliver a memorable visitor experience as well as familiarising the visitor fully with the layout and history of the city, its key features and characters. The guides on the buses were the highlight of the tours, their knowledge and enthusiasm for the City was infectious, the combination of amusing anecdotes and easily digested historical facts made for a most enjoyable visit."

City Sightseeing Bristol – weekend timetables in February and March. For general inquiries call 0906 711 2181 calls charged at 50p a minute plus network extras.

10) Step Back in Time - experience the sights, sounds and smells of life on board Brunel's ss Great Britain. This award winning tourist attraction is open daily except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It says: "Whether aged three or 93, there is so much to discover about the ss Great Britain, her conservation, her history, true stories of Victorian passengers and crew and Isambard Kingdom Brunel."

Brunel's ss Great Britain, Great Western Dockyard, Bristol, BS1 6TY T: 0117 926 0680.

Individual and family tickets available with each ticket permitting free return visits for 12 months.