Mother’s Day Traditions: How We Celebrated Then and How We Celebrate Now

Mother’s Day has always been one of those dates that sneaks up on you. One minute it’s February, the next you’re suddenly trying to remember if you bought a card, booked a table, or at least made a phone call. For Gen X, Mother’s Day carries a lot of memories, not just of celebrating our own mums, but of how the day felt growing up in the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Back then it was called Mothering Sunday just as often as Mother’s Day, and the traditions felt a bit simpler, a bit more homemade, and a lot less commercial than they can seem now.

The Card From School

For many of us, the first Mother’s Day cards we ever gave weren’t bought in a shop. They were made at school.

Folded paper, glitter that went everywhere, felt tip pens running out halfway through writing “Happy Mother’s Day”, and the teacher reminding everyone not to say anything because it had to be a surprise.

Those cards probably meant more than anything bought later on, even if the spelling wasn’t perfect.

Breakfast in Bed Attempts

One of the classic Mother’s Day traditions was breakfast in bed.

In reality, this often meant burnt toast, tea that had gone cold before it reached the bedroom, and a tray that wasn’t quite steady enough to carry everything properly. But it was the effort that counted, and for a lot of mums that was the whole point.

It was one of those things you felt you had to do at least once when you were a kid, even if it didn’t go exactly to plan.

The Sunday Lunch Tradition

As we got older, Mother’s Day usually meant going out for Sunday lunch.

Pubs and restaurants were packed, every table full of families doing the same thing, and everyone pretending they’d booked ages ago even if it was a last-minute call.

For Gen X, this became the default way to celebrate. A roast dinner, a glass of wine, and the chance to sit down together without anyone rushing off to work or school.

Even now, it’s still one of the most common ways to mark the day.

Flowers, Chocolates and the Last-Minute Dash

Some traditions never change.

Flowers from the garage on the way round.
Chocolates bought the day before.
A card picked very quickly while hoping it says the right thing.

Mother’s Day has always had a bit of that last-minute panic about it, and maybe that’s part of the charm. It’s not about perfection, it’s about making sure the effort is there.

Now Gen X Are the Ones Being Celebrated

One of the strange things about getting older is realising that for many of us, Mother’s Day isn’t just about our mums anymore.

A lot of Gen X listeners are now the ones getting the cards, the flowers, and the slightly wobbly breakfast in bed attempts. The traditions carry on, just with the roles reversed.

And that’s probably why the day still feels special. It connects different generations in a way not many other dates do.

Keeping the Tradition Going

Whether it’s a phone call, a family meal, or just a quick visit with a card, Mother’s Day is still one of those moments in the year when people stop and say thank you.

It might look a bit different now than it did in the 80s, but the idea is the same.

A small gesture, a bit of time together, and a reminder that some traditions are worth keeping.

For Gen X, Mother’s Day isn’t just another date on the calendar.
It’s part of growing up, part of family life, and now, part of growing older too.