There's a jewel for your birthday and for every month of the year. The one that marks the month you're born in is your birthstone. The custom of wearing birthstones as jewelry began in Poland in the 1700s. All except the pearl, the only birthstone made inside a living creature, are minerals that look dull until they are cut and polished to bring out their beauty. Hundreds of years ago, the sapphire was thought to relieve insanity, topaz to ease asthma, and amber to cure sickness. Traditions about the various gemstones have led to assigning certain of them to each of the twelve months. Read on to learn about your stone's colorful history!
Garnet for January -- People in medieval Europe believed that garnet would bring bad luck to anyone who tried to steal the gem. Warriors fired garnets as bullets, believing the gem's redness would cause bloodier wounds. It gets its name from the Latin word for pomegranate, the fruit that shares its deep red color. Signifying constancy, the garnet is thought to protect sleepers from nightmares and travelers from danger.
Amethyst for February -- Known as the Cinderella of stones, it's made of quartz that when polished, becomes a shiny purple jewel. In medieval Europe, people avoided drinking wine at parties by drinking water in amethyst cups that created a purple glow and made water look like wine. It is said to represent sobriety and sincerity.
Aquamarine for March -- Its name means "seawater," and people thought this gem could protect ships and sailors from disasters at sea. Known to grow as large as 200 pounds, it appears to change color, from pale blue to green, depending on the light. It signifies wisdom.
Diamond for April -- The hardest natural substance on earth, diamonds range in color from clear to sooty black. Believed to be the tears of the gods, most are found in South Africa. They signify innocence.
Emerald for May -- A perfect emerald is so rare, it is worth more than any fine diamond. This fragile green stone is a symbol of rebirth and romance. Some believe it soothes the soul, sharpens wit and changes color if you are unfaithful!
Pearl for June -- Formed inside the shell of an oyster, most pearls today come from pearl farms in Japan where people insert tiny beads into the shell to start the growth. Pearls vary widely in color and shape and are said to signify wealth.
Ruby for July -- Second only to the diamond in hardness, rubies are made from the same mineral, corundum, as sapphires. Said to bring good luck to gamblers, the red stone is a symbol of freedom, health, passion and the triumph of love.
Peridot for August -- Used in ancient times to pay taxes to the Egyptian pharaohs, this green stone with an oily luster is sometimes called the evening emerald. Used as an amulet against night terrors, it is said to signify friendship.
Sapphire for September -- An ancient myth claims the sky gets its color from a huge blue sapphire that holds up the earth. It can be any color, except red, when we call it a ruby. The blue gems are the most valuable, and all are considered a symbol of purity and truth.
Opal for October -- A tiny bit of liquid remains inside opals, which shimmer with many colors. In medieval Europe people thought wearing an opal would render them invisible because the gem's iridescent colors would dim the onlooker's eyes. This fragile stone symbolizes magic, hope and love.
Topaz for November -- Called the sun jewel, the topaz is thought to improve eyesight and break spells. Its name means "fire," and although most are golden, they can be pink, green or blue. It signifies loyalty.
Turquoise for December -- Turquoise is formed, like the opal, by mineral-rich water that hardened when it seeped into gaps in rocks. It is mined in arid lands and ranges in color from blue to green. To American Indians, it embodies the blue of heaven and green of earth. It symbolizes success.
Info from BeingGirl.com
