 |
|
Birthstones: Personalize your hand-made birthday
cards or scrapbook
pages with traditional gems and colors
Birthstones
are the colorful precious and semi-precious gems
traditionally associated
with the months of the year. In gemstone lore, they originated
in the Old Testament book of Exodus, where there is a
description
of colored stones representing the twelve tribes of
Israel, which were set into the breastplate of the High Priest.
The order of the stones (or it may be argued, the stones'
colors)
was later codified in the New Testament book of Revelation as the
twelve Foundation Stones of the New Jerusalem. (For a well-researched
discussion of this subject, visit J.J. Kent's Precious Stones Guide, Volume 9).
Over
time, each stone became identified with
a month of the year as well as distinct powers of energy and
healing. By the 18th century, written references
describe the fashionable practice of wearing your birth month gem in jewelry,
often engraved with the associated zodiacal sign.
If you are more interested in the Zodiac stones associated
with astrology and the horoscope, visit our Zodiac
Birthstones page.
Let these precious gems give you inspiration and ideas for your hand-made
birthday cards and gifts, or scrapbook pages.
| BIRTHSTONES |
| January |
Garnet  |
| February |
Amethyst  |
| March |
Aquamarine
or
Bloodstone |
| April |
Diamond or
Rock Crystal |
| May |
Emerald or
Chrysoprase |
| June |
Pearl ,
Moonstone or Alexandrite |
| July |
Ruby or Carnelion |
| August |
Peridot or
Sardonyx |
| September |
Sapphire
or
Lapis |
| October |
Opal or Tourmaline  |
| November |
Yellow Topaz or Citrine  |
| December |
Blue Topaz ,
Turquoise, Zircon, or Tanzanite |
(This modern list was formalized in 1912, with
the only change being the addition of Tanzanite for December in 2002.)
Return from Birthstones to Birthday Gifts
page


|
|