The term "Laetare Sunday" translates from the Latin word laetari, meaning rejoice."   This Sunday is also known as Mothering Sunday , Refreshment Sunda y , Mid-L ent Sunday, and  Rose Sunday. I t was also once known as "the Sunday of the Five Loaves," from the traditional Gospel reading for the day .

There may be flowers on the altar and priests are given the option  to wear rose -colored  vestments  in place of the violet vestments normally worn during Lent.  (The term "rose" is used to describe a lighter shade of the color violet.)  In the western liturgical system, purple is the color of Lenten penance and white is the color of feast days.   Rose is the color of Laetare because the color is obtained naturally by mixing purple and white.

The day is a day of relaxation from normal Lenten observances; a day of hope with Easter being at last within sight. Traditionally, even weddings (otherwise banned during Lent) could be performed on this day, and servants were released from service for the day to visit their mothers (hence 'Mothering Sunday'.)