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Birthstones are gems associated with each month and are believed to bring
luck, health or spiritual aid to people born in that month. Some say birthstones
originated from the 12-jeweled breastplate worn by Aaron, the brother
of Moses. Birthstones have evolved over years - below is an outline of
modern birthstones as utilized today. Don't forget to check out Zodiac
Stones too!
January --
Garnet (also Rose Quartz)
Stone ranges from colorless to black, but is mostly known as deep red
in color. It is found in Africa, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, and in some
parts of the U.S. Garnet comes from the Latin word "granatus"
which means seedlike as that of the pomegranate. Some believe that Noah
hung a large garnet in the ark for light. It reportedly gives the wearer
guidance in the night, protection from nightmares, and according to the
Egyptians, is an antidote for snakesbites and food poisoning.
Crusaders believed that garnets brought
victory and used them as protection against wounds and accidents during
their journeys. Asiatic warriors believed that glowing garnets, used as
bullets, inflicted more severe wounds. In 1892, during hositilities on
the Kashmir frontier, the Hanza tribesmen fired on British soldiers with
garnet bullets.
February -- Amethyst (also Onyx)
Amethyst comes in hues of purple ranging from whitish to deep purple.
The Greeks believed it prevented intoxication and was said to have a sobering
affect in love as well. The myth goes that Bacchus was angry at a mortal
and vowed that the next mortal to cross his path would be eaten by tigers.
The beautiful maiden, Amethyst, happened by on her way to worship Diana
and Diana and wishing to protect her, Bacchus turned her into a colorless
Quartz. He then took his wine and poured it over her, turning her into
a beautiful color purple.
It has symbolized peace, protection and
tranquility throughout most cultures -- royalty in nearly every country
has always adored the color purple. Amethysts are widely used in the ornaments
of ancient Greeks and Egyptians as well as in the British Crown Jewel.
It has been said that the signet ring worn by Cleopatra was an amethyst,
engraved with the figure of Mithras, a Persian diety symbolizing the Divine
Idea and the Source of Light and Life. It's also said to be the stone
of St. Valentine, who wore an amethyst engraved with the figure of his
assistant, Cupid.
March -- Aquamarine (also Tourmaline, Blood
Jasper)
Aquamarine is a clear stone ranging in color from light blue to blue-green
to dark blue, mostly mined is Brazil, and is easily found in large sizes.
It is member of the beryl family, which also includes emerald. In ancient
times, the stone was said to aid those at sea.
Dreams about the gem signify the making
of new friends, and wearing aquamarine earrings allegedly brings love
and affection. The name was derived by the Romans, "aqua" meaning
water and "mare" meaning sea. They were believed to have originated
from the jewel caskets of sirens, washed ashore from the depths of the
ocean. They were considered sacred to Neptune. Its first documented use
was by the Greeks between 480-300 BC, as seafarers wore amulets engraved
with the god Poseidon on a chariot.
April -- Diamond (also Sapphire, Rock Cryst
Stone ranges from colorless to red, green, pink, blue, canary yellow and
amber. The name comes from the Greek word "adamas" meaning unconquerable
as in the eternity of love. It has the hardest density of all minerals,
rating a 10 on the Mohs Table.
Diamonds were discovered more than 2,000
years ago in India. Ancient Hindus, who found diamonds washed out of the
ground after thunderstorms, believed they were created by bolts of lightning.
Superior strength, fortitude and courage is also associated with diamond.
May -- Emerald (also Chrysoprase)
Several famous historical artifacts were made of emeralds, including the
Crown of Andes, said to have been worn by the last Inca kind of Perus
who was taken prisoner by Conquistador Pizzaro in 1532. The name comes
from "smaragdos" in Greek, meaning green stone.A
flawless, clear emerald is very rare and usually found in only small sizes.
According to many legends, wearing an emerald
cured illnesses such as poor eyesight and infertility, and helped those
with a low I.Q. Nero wore emerald sunglasses to view the chariot races.
It has also been said to enable the wearer to predict the future. The
Egyptians believed that emeralds stood for fertility and rebirth.
June -- Pearl (also Moonstone, Alexandrite)
Pearls are naturally produced inside the living tissue of the oyster.
According to Indian mythology, pearls were dewdrops from heaven that fell
into the sea. They were caught by shellfish under the first rays of the
rising sun, during a period of a full moon. In
India, warriors encrusted their swords with pearls to symbolize the tears
of sorrow that a sword brings.
In general, they have come to represent
modesty, chastity and purity, as well as a happy marriage. The greater
the size of the pearl, the greater the value, although the luster and
roundness affect value as well.
July -- Ruby (also Carnelian)
Rubies are among the most highly prized of gemstones, harder to find in
a large size than diamonds, emeralds or sapphires. Sister to the sapphire,
the ruby is red corundum. Its name comes from the Latin word "ruber"
meaning red.
Rubies are believed to protect their owners,
and some thought its protective powers were intensified when set in jewelry
and worn on the left side of the body. According to an ancient verse,
"The gleaming ruby should adorn, All those who in July are born,
for thus they'll be exempt and free, From lover's doubts and anxiety."
August -- Peridot (also Onyx, Sardonyx)
The peridot was regarded since ancient times as the symbol of the sun.
The Greeks believed it brought royal dignity upon its wearer. During the
Middle Ages, peridot was pierced and strung on the hair of a donkey and
attached to the left arm to ward off evil spirits. The Crusaders through
peridots were emeralds, and brought them back to Europe where they were
featured as ornaments in churches. Up until the 18th Century, peridot
were considered part of the topaz family.
It is found in Australia, Brazil, China,
Egypt, the U.S., Myanmar and Norway. According to lore in the Far East
and Africa, the peridot intensified the effects of a drug if the cup that
held it were made of peridot. Pirates considered peridot powerful amulets
against all evil and, when set in gold, protected the wearer from the
terrors of the night.
September -- Sapphire (also Peridot)
(Sapphire that is gem quality that is not red corundum, or, Ruby.) Sapphires
come in a rainbow of colors, but the most recognized is blue. Ancients
believed the Ten Commandments were written on a sapphire tablet. Ancient
priests and sorcerers honored sapphire above all gems as they believed
it allowed them to tell the future.The
Persians believed the earth rested on a great sapphire, the color of which
was reflected to give the sky its blue color.
Marriage partners put great faith in the
stone believing that if its luster dimmed a spouse had been unfaithful.
Prince Charles chose a blue sapphire for Princess Diana's engagement ring.
Sapphire is a relative to ruby, as both are a form of the mineral corundum.
October -- Opal (also Aquamarine, Tourmaline)
Opal is a noncrystalline form of the mineral silica. Its name derives
from the Sanskrit word "upala" as well as the Latin "opalus"
meaning precious stone. The ancient historian Pliny once described it
in the following way: "...it is made up of the glories of the most
precious stones....There is in it the gentler fire of the ruby, the brilliant
purple of the amethyst, the sea-green of the emerald, all shining together
in an incredible union." It shines as it does because it has the
ability to refract and reflect specific wavelengths of light. Opals have
represented hope, innocence and purity through the ages.
November -- Topaz (also Tiger's Eye and Citrine)
It comes in a variety of colors including blue, white, and yellow. The
orange-red "Imperial" topaz is rare. Its name comes from an
island in the Red Sea called Topazios, meaning "to guess."
The lore, magic and romance of topaz goes
back many thousands of years. The Greeks believed it gave them strength
and relieved ailments (even death). In Sanskrit topaz means "fire"
and yet it was believed that it could be used to control heat, such as
cool boiling water or an excessive temper. It has also been said to make
its wearer invisible in time of emergency, and prove the loyalty of associates
by changing color in the presence of poison.
December -- Turquoise (also Blue Zircon)
Stones range in color from sky blue to green, with pure, vainless sky
blue being most valuable. It is found in the U.S., China, Afghanistan,
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Mexico, and Tanzania. During the
16th century, Southwest Indians used the stone as a form of currency.
American Indians believe turquoise can bring spoils to the warrior, animals
to the hunter, and happiness and good fortune to all. The Navajo, specifically,
believe it ensures favor with their Yeis (mediators between man and the
supernatural), and believe when thrown into a river during certain ceremonies,
it will aid in bringing rain.Turquoise
is offered to the Wind Spirit to appease him -- when the wind is blowing,
Navajos believe, the Spirit is searching for turquoise. The Sacred Mountain
of the South, Mt. Taylor near Grants, New Mexico, is made of a mixture
of turquoise and earth. Many healing ceremonies and rites are applied
there.
Blue Zircon -- the legend of Zircon began
when Hyacinth, a Greek youth, was slain. The wild hyacinth flower was
believed to have sprung from his spilled blood. Since wild hyacinth in
Greece are blue-violet, a Roman scholar (Pliny) compared Blue Zircon to
hyacinth.
Go to Zodiac Stones
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