Months in the Calendar
January, Birthstone Garnet

By Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com

Months in the Calendar - January, Birthstone Garnet

The piece below was designed by Princess Beatrice, daughter of Queen Victoria and is from an 1881 publication.

Click thumbnails

Today you can copy this idea using well crafted calligraphy skills or simply employ a decorative font from the computer.  Alternatively, you can add your own border using wrapping paper, decoupage or other sketching skills.

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January

Januarius is named after the Roman god of beginnings - Janus.

Astrological signs

Capricorn Dec 22–Jan 20  Aquarius Jan 21–Feb 21

January - Birthstones are Garnet and Lapis Lazuli

Although mostly thought of as red, the the garnet gemstone comes in many colours.  It is possible to make a piece of jewellery in many colours and for a January, the garnet birthstone is the one to treasure.

Long ago garnets were thought to be connected to blood and were assumed to have medicinal powers offering protection against wounds, depression, nightmares and poisons.  Today, you can buy beautiful pieces of jewellery featuring garnets birthstone.  QVC always has a good selection of different types of garnet gemstone jewellery in a range of colours. They especially feature Brazilian gems.

Derivation of garnet - Latin granatum the word for pomegranate.

Lapis Lazuli is the most beautiful royal blue stone.  It has been used not only for jewellery and inlay decoration, but also in the past it was ground up to produce pigments for eye make up and paints.  Before the C19^th when mixed with oil, it produced the original form of ultramarine paint used by master artists.  Ultramarine is one of the main fashion colours for spring 2006.

Birthstones of the Calendar

The name of many calendar months have Latin derivations.  Birthstones were initially linked to the Zodiac, but now are linked to calendar months.  Birthstones have always been thought to have magical powers within them with such powers passed to the wearer of the gem.  This idea has been revived by new age followers who extol the virtues of natural quartz crystals. They emphasise the importance of good harmony, energy, chi, balance, and healing.  In addition the stones are often very pretty!  Talismanic Jewellery has gained new importance since the millennium.

Individuals often feel special wearing jewellery corresponding to their own birthstones.  Many people develop collections based around a fondness for their own particular birthstone.  Some months of the year have two or three stones as birthstones.  New gems and semi precious stones have become more popular.  Cultures have merged and mixed so much in the past 100 years, that original lists of birthstones popular in any one country have tended to merge so that several stones are often featured in lists.

See Topics Below for More Ideas on Christmas Traditions, Customs, and Recipes

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