Mother's Day, orginally called Mothering Sunday, is the fourth Sunday of Lent and has no connection with the American festival of the same name.
Traditionally it was a day when children, mainly daughters who had gone to work as domestic servants, were given a day off to visit their family.
Today it is a day when children give presents, flowers, and cards - often home-made - to their mothers.
In the past people would return to their home or 'mother' church once a year in the middle of Lent, and this would become a family reunion for children as young as ten who were working away to return home.
As they walked along the country lanes, children would pick wild flowers to take to church or give to their mother as a gift.
The food item specially associated with Mothering Sunday is the Simnel cake - a fruit cake with two layers of almond paste, one on top and one in the middle and decorated with eleven balls of marzipan on top representing the disciples but not Judas. Traditionally, sugar violets would also be added.
Here's some pictures of wonderful Northamptonshire mothers from our archives.

9. Makeover for mum
Corby Chelles Angels Mother's Day makeover competition winner Nancy Keegans with Michelle Lafitte and Nikki Rush. March 2006

10. I'll be mother
Corby, Lodge Park Sports Centre afternoon tea event: Sofia Siller, 3, pours tea for Zoe Jefferson 2013

11. Happy and glorious
Mother and daughter Lisa and Eleanor Adams (12) from Higham Ferrers chosen to represent Northamptonshire Girls Brigade at the Royal Wedding in 2011

12. Breakfast with mum
Wellingborough Kiddu Caru Mother's Day breakfast l-r Rio Harrison, 2, with his mum Dionne Quarrie and Mary Fox with daughter Mia-Louise Rogers, 2, March 2013

