When is Mother's Day in 2026? We'll also tell you about the origins and history of Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is a day to express gratitude to mothers. There are various types of flower gifts chosen for Mother's Day, including classic carnations, bouquets, flower arrangements, potted plants, and preserved flowers.

Do you know what Mother's Day is and its history? This article will explain the origin and history of Mother's Day, Mother's Day around the world, and what flowers to give for Mother's Day. This article provides an easy-to-understand guide covering the origin of Mother's Day, the reason for giving carnations, their flower meanings, and how to choose the perfect flowers for Mother's Day.

When is Mother's Day 2026?

Mother's Day in 2026 is Sunday, May 10th.
Mother's Day is always on the second Sunday of May, so the date changes each year.
Since the date isn't fixed, it can be a bit tricky to remember, but if you keep in mind that it's always on a Sunday, it shouldn't be too difficult.
Also, it's a good tip to remember that Mother's Day usually comes right after Golden Week.

By the way, here are the dates for Mother's Day for the next 10 years:

■ What are the origins and history of Mother's Day?

The origin of Mother's Day dates back to 1907 in West Virginia, USA, when a schoolteacher named Anna Jarvis held a memorial service at a church to commemorate her deceased mother.
At that time, she presented white carnations, her mother's favorite flower, to the attendees, which is why carnations are still given to mothers today.
Anna's memorial service deeply touched many people, and in 1914, the second Sunday of May, the day of the memorial service, was designated as Mother's Day and became a national holiday in the United States.

Learn more about the history of Mother's Day

■ When did Mother's Day begin in Japan?

Mother's Day began to spread in Japan during the Taisho era.
It gradually gained popularity among Christians, and in 1937, Morinaga & Co., Ltd., a confectionery manufacturer, held the "Morinaga Mother's Day Event."
This is said to have been the catalyst for the widespread recognition of Mother's Day throughout Japan.
Furthermore, during the post-war period under GHQ occupation, there was a movement to popularize Mother's Day in Japan, and partly due to this influence, Mother's Day is now a well-known annual event.

■ What is the average cost of Mother's Day gifts?

Many people give flowers as gifts on Mother's Day. The average price is said to be around "5,000 to 7,000 yen."
For floral gifts, bouquets and flower arrangements using carnations, preserved flowers, and potted plants seem to be popular choices.
For potted plants and houseplants, the average price is around 5,000 yen.
!YOUKAEN offers stylish Mother's Day floral gifts that meet this price range. We create each one with care, so please consider us.

Why are carnations given on Mother's Day?

As mentioned above, Anna Jarvis's presentation of "white carnations," her mother's favorite flower, to the attendees of the memorial service is said to be the beginning of giving carnations on Mother's Day.
From that anecdote, white carnations were considered "flowers for a deceased mother," and red carnations were distinguished as "flowers for a living mother."
However, in recent years, this distinction by color has disappeared out of consideration for those who have lost their mothers.
Furthermore, red carnations are associated with the flower meanings of "ardent love," "mother's love," and "believing in love," serving as a means to express gratitude and love to mothers.

■ What kind of flower is a carnation?

In Japanese, it is called Oranda Nadeshiko or Oranda Sekichiku. The name carnation is most likely derived from the Latin word "carn" (flesh), referring to the color of the flower. Indeed, red carnations do seem to have a fleshy color. Carnations have been cherished flowers since ancient times, and at one point, they were as popular as roses and tulips. In Islamic countries, in particular, they have a history of being used in arabesque designs.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, horticulturists crossbred them, giving birth to many carnation varieties. Later, "show carnations" emerged. These flowers had smooth petals, quite different from today's carnations, but they were the mainstream carnations of that era.

■ Carnation flower meanings by color?

Carnations have different flower meanings depending on their color.
The overall flower meanings of carnations include "pure and deep love," "woman's love," "fascination," "admiration," and "pure affection."

While most of the flower meanings are lovely, the flower meanings for yellow carnations can be a bit negative. If this concerns you, it might be best to avoid gifting them on Mother's Day.
Additionally, while it's less of a concern these days, white carnations were once known as "flowers to give to a deceased mother," so it might be good to keep that in mind just in case.

■ Carnation flower meanings by number?

Carnations also have different flower meanings depending on the number of stems.
The flower meanings of carnations by number are more directed towards proposals and wedding anniversaries,
so you don't need to worry too much about it when gifting them for Mother's Day, but I'll introduce them because they have deep and interesting meanings.

There are some similarities with the flower meanings of roses, but both carnations and roses are flowers that convey love.
If you're giving flowers to your wife on Mother's Day, it might be interesting to consider the number of carnations.

More about carnations here

What flowers should I send for Mother's Day?

When you want to give flowers for Mother's Day, some people wonder what kind of floral gift to choose.
Here are some popular floral gifts for Mother's Day. Please use them as a reference when choosing your floral gift.

■ Classic Mother's Day gift: Red Carnations

The classic flower to give on Mother's Day is the red carnation.
It's a versatile flower, used extensively in cut flowers, bouquets, flower arrangements, preserved flowers, potted plants, and even mixed planters. Many floral gifts featuring red carnations appear for Mother's Day.
The flower meanings of red carnations are "mother's love," "pure love," and "true love."
On Mother's Day, give red carnations to express the gratitude you can't usually convey!

What kind of flower gift should I choose for Mother's Day?

It is recommended to choose a Mother's Day flower gift according to your mother's lifestyle and preferences. For those who have a vase, a bouquet is recommended; for those who want to display the flowers immediately upon arrival, a flower arrangement; and for those who want to enjoy them for a long time, potted plants or preserved flowers are also popular choices.

■ Easy to display and stylish Flower Arrangements

Flower arrangements are often chosen when you're unsure if the recipient has a vase.
A flower arrangement consists of flowers inserted into a water-absorbing sponge placed in a basket or ceramic container.
Since the flowers can be displayed immediately upon arrival, they are very popular and convenient!
If you want to give flowers to your mother but are unsure what to send, choosing a flower arrangement is a good option.

What kind of flower gift should I choose for Mother's Day?

It is recommended to choose a Mother's Day flower gift according to your mother's lifestyle and preferences. For those who have a vase, a bouquet is recommended; for those who want to display the flowers immediately upon arrival, a flower arrangement; and for those who want to enjoy them for a long time, potted plants or preserved flowers are also popular choices.

■ Bouquets and bundles of seasonal flowers

Bouquets and bundles generously featuring Mother's Day classic carnations, roses, and other seasonal flowers are also very popular.
Displaying them in a vase will quickly transform the room into an early summer atmosphere.
At &YOUKAEN, our florists meticulously create bouquets, offering stylish and well-designed Mother's Day bouquets.
Why not present a bouquet filled with seasonal flowers for Mother's Day?

What kind of flower gift should I choose for Mother's Day?

It is recommended to choose a Mother's Day flower gift according to your mother's lifestyle and preferences. For those who have a vase, a bouquet is recommended; for those who want to display the flowers immediately upon arrival, a flower arrangement; and for those who want to enjoy them for a long time, potted plants or preserved flowers are also popular choices.

■ Potted Plants Recommended for Moms Who Love Flowers

Unlike bouquets and flower arrangements, potted plants are flower gifts delivered in soil.
The flowers arrive alive, absorbing nutrients and water from the soil, making them a perfect flower gift for mothers who love flowers and want to grow them!
We offer a variety of potted plants, from classic red carnations to seasonal flowers like hydrangeas.

What kind of flower gift should you choose for Mother's Day?

For Mother's Day flower gifts, it's recommended to choose according to your mother's lifestyle and preferences. For those who have a vase, a bouquet; for those who want to display it immediately upon arrival, a flower arrangement; and for those who want to enjoy it for a long time, potted plants and preserved flowers are also popular choices.

■ Easy-to-care-for Dried Flowers and Preserved Flowers

These are gifts that don't require watering, unlike bouquets or flower arrangements.
Dried flowers are flower gifts created by drying flowers to give them a shabby chic feel, typically as bouquets or swags.
Preserved flowers are "immortal flowers" that undergo special treatment to retain the texture of fresh flowers.
If your mother is busy with work and you're wondering if she'll find them too much trouble to care for, then please choose a dried flower or preserved flower gift.

What kind of flower gift should you choose for Mother's Day?

For Mother's Day flower gifts, it's recommended to choose according to your mother's lifestyle and preferences. For those who have a vase, a bouquet; for those who want to display it immediately upon arrival, a flower arrangement; and for those who want to enjoy it for a long time, potted plants and preserved flowers are also popular choices.

&YOUKAEN offers stylish Mother's Day flower gifts

At &YOUKAEN, we offer bouquets and flower arrangements carefully crafted one by one by Tokyo florists. Our Mother's Day 2026 concept is "be full — unexpected joy." We deliver flower gifts that fill mothers' hearts with joyful surprises.

While regular Mother's Day gift orders have concluded, we offer E-gifts that allow you to convey your feelings on Mother's Day itself, as well as "Sorry for the delay" gifts for delivery after Mother's Day.

View "Sorry for the delay" Mother's Day gifts

View Mother's Day E-gifts