Mother's Day Terminology Across the UK
If you have visited a supermarket or been near a card shop recently, you will be aware that today is Mother's Day, the annual occasion dedicated to honoring the women we refer to as mums, mams, or, in some areas of the West Midlands, moms.
Mother's Day is always observed on the fourth Sunday of Lent, which falls three weeks before Easter. It provides an opportunity to express appreciation for the important women in our lives.
The Challenge of Finding the Right Card
However, one business owner experienced frustration due to national retailers predominantly stocking cards addressed only to "mums." In response, she launched her own service to accommodate every "mom, mam, mother ma and mama" across the country.
Andrea Pullen, who grew up in Shirley in the West Midlands, noted that among her friends there was an even split regarding whether they used "mum" or "mom."
"It's always been slightly contentious," she explained.
"Friends would write 'mom' in their schoolwork and teachers would correct them saying it was an Americanism.
"But it's obviously a Birmingham thing to say."
Historical Roots of 'Mom' in Birmingham and the Black Country
Social historian Professor Carl Chinn supports this perspective, stating that the term "mom" is deeply rooted in the history of Birmingham and the Black Country, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period of west Mercia.
Although few texts in the Mercian dialect survive, those that do suggest that the Mercians transformed an 'a' into an 'o' before nasal consonants such as 'n,' 'm,' and 'ng.'
"Thus Mercians would have said mon for man, hond for hand and lond for land," he explained.
"We don't see it written down until just before the first world war, when it appears in the In Memorium columns in the Birmingham Mail, and that's important because it was read by working class Brummies.
"It is remarkable that this feature survived strongly into the 21st Century in Birmingham and the Black Country and it is because of this ancient linguistic feature that we say 'mom' and not 'mum'."
Local Perspectives on the Use of 'Mom'
Penny Johnson, who operates a flower shop in Coleshill near Birmingham, described the use of "mom" as simply part of the local dialect.
She shared that when she posted the question "mom or mum?" on social media, it sparked a significant debate.
"It's just triggered loads and loads of comments," she said.
Regarding floral lettering requests for funerals, she noted that approximately 80% are for "mom" rather than "mum."
"It's not very often we get asked for mum and, if it is, it's probably somebody that's perhaps grown up out of the area," she added.
"My kids are in their 20s, and I'm still mom to them - and mine is still my mom."
Her floral window display also spells out the word "mom."
"It's just the norm to me, but we've had some lovely comments on it."
Andrea Pullen's Business and Cultural Mapping
Andrea Pullen runs her online business, Mom Cards, from her home in Stafford. She reported that her sales have doubled in the past 12 months.
She established the business after hearing friends express frustration about the lack of appropriate cards in stores.
"It's a very personal thing," she said, "and you wouldn't adjust the spelling of your own name to something else."
Additionally, she maps the usage of different terms for mother across the UK.
"It's fascinating where all the different orders are coming from, because obviously what you call a mother is passed down through generations - and even if you move away you're taking that with you.
"It's such a strong part of the Birmingham identity."
"I'm just trying to make sure that whatever you call your mum, there's a nice range available for her."
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