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Carnation is a flower that originated in the Near East. It is often worn on special occasions, especially Mother's Day and weddings. Its only original colour was pinkish-hued (flesh-like or "carnal", hence the name "carnation"), but later, through cultivation, other varieties of colours -- like red and white -- appeared too. Its Latin name Dianthus comes from the Greek words dios ("god") and anthos ("flower").