One of the most popular gifts throughout the world is the gift of jewelry and whether its costume fashion jewelry or designer jewelry, rings and earrings with birthstones have always been a popular gift choice. The association between the months of the year to specific gems has its beginnings around the time of Josephus, a first-century Jewish scholar who wrote about the twelve stones that were placed on the special breastplate given to the High Priest of Israel. Each of these stones, he said, referred to one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and eventually stones were also associated to the twelve months of the Gregorian calendar, although these early stones are not the same that we have in modern times.
The gems we associate with each month now are based on either German or Polish traditions that existed as far back as the 1500s, and the current list of gemstones recognized by the National Association of Jewelers was established in 1912. Great Britain has its own list of birthstones, which is quite similar to ours. Hindu tradition also includes a matching of birthstones to each month, and several months include gems that are the same as the Western birthstones. For example, the pearl is known as one of the gemstones for June for Americans, the British and Hindus. Diamonds also are universally associated with the month of April.
People have always been fascinated by the beauty of gems and in ancient times, some believed many gems to be magical or healing. Peridot, the August birthstone, was said to cure skin and liver diseases and also to ward off feelings of envy. Perhaps envy and peridot were associated because of the color green, as those who were envious were said to be "green with envy" and the peridot itself is a lovely shade of green.
Just about every birthstone and gem has a legend surrounding it, including November's gem, the citrine. Some ancient people believed that if you placed a citrine on your forehead, it would improve your psychic abilities. The citrine also was felt to enhance creativity and ward off negative energy and increase self-esteem. January's gem, the garnet, was said to fight off depression and promote good health. Soldiers fighting in the Crusades sometimes wore garnets because they believe that it was a good luck charm that ensured battlefield victories as well as preventing personal injury.
While several months have just one birthstone, others have multiple options. In January, you just have garnets and in February, there is the amethyst. April, May and August also have just a single stone, the diamond, the emerald or the peridot. December has quite a few, depending on the source, including turquoise, zircon, topaz and also tanzanite. September has just one in the United States, but three in Great Britain. In America, September babies have sapphires as a birth stone, but in England, Scotland or Wales, you can choose sapphire, lapis or lazuli.
Finding jewelry that features a specific birthstone or a faux birthstone is quite easy, as this is a popular offering from jewelers. You can find all different types of jewelry with birthstones, including earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces, as well as fun items such as toe rings, belly rings and much more. A mother's ring is an excellent gift for any mom as this special birthstone ring features the stones for the birth months of every one of her children.
The gems we associate with each month now are based on either German or Polish traditions that existed as far back as the 1500s, and the current list of gemstones recognized by the National Association of Jewelers was established in 1912. Great Britain has its own list of birthstones, which is quite similar to ours. Hindu tradition also includes a matching of birthstones to each month, and several months include gems that are the same as the Western birthstones. For example, the pearl is known as one of the gemstones for June for Americans, the British and Hindus. Diamonds also are universally associated with the month of April.
People have always been fascinated by the beauty of gems and in ancient times, some believed many gems to be magical or healing. Peridot, the August birthstone, was said to cure skin and liver diseases and also to ward off feelings of envy. Perhaps envy and peridot were associated because of the color green, as those who were envious were said to be "green with envy" and the peridot itself is a lovely shade of green.
Just about every birthstone and gem has a legend surrounding it, including November's gem, the citrine. Some ancient people believed that if you placed a citrine on your forehead, it would improve your psychic abilities. The citrine also was felt to enhance creativity and ward off negative energy and increase self-esteem. January's gem, the garnet, was said to fight off depression and promote good health. Soldiers fighting in the Crusades sometimes wore garnets because they believe that it was a good luck charm that ensured battlefield victories as well as preventing personal injury.
While several months have just one birthstone, others have multiple options. In January, you just have garnets and in February, there is the amethyst. April, May and August also have just a single stone, the diamond, the emerald or the peridot. December has quite a few, depending on the source, including turquoise, zircon, topaz and also tanzanite. September has just one in the United States, but three in Great Britain. In America, September babies have sapphires as a birth stone, but in England, Scotland or Wales, you can choose sapphire, lapis or lazuli.
Finding jewelry that features a specific birthstone or a faux birthstone is quite easy, as this is a popular offering from jewelers. You can find all different types of jewelry with birthstones, including earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces, as well as fun items such as toe rings, belly rings and much more. A mother's ring is an excellent gift for any mom as this special birthstone ring features the stones for the birth months of every one of her children.
About the Author:
Stefanie Flenner enjoys jewelry shopping. For additional info about the best online store for costume fashion jewelry or to find other fashion jewelry collections such as rhinestone necklace sets, please visit the GlitterJewelry4u.com site today.
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