a-mothering

English

Noun

a-mothering (uncountable)

1. (obsolete) The practice of visiting one's literal or figurative mother or mother church (compare Mothering Sunday); also called mothering.
   • 1905, John Brand, William Carew Hazlitt, “National Faiths”, in Faiths and folklore: a dictionary of national beliefs, Vol 2‎^[1], page 424:

     Mothering-.—In former days, when the Roman Catholic was the established religion, it was the custom for people to visit their Mother Church on MidLent Sunday, and to make their offerings at the high altar. ...the now remaining practice of Mothering, or going to visit parents upon Mid-Lent Sunday, is really owing to that good old custom.