| If you're still young enough to remember your | | | | What's In A Name? |
| birthday, you probably also remember the special | | | | Look at the seeds of a pomegranate and you'll |
| birthstone assigned to it. But at your age, we bet | | | | immediately understand how the word "garnet" |
| you don't really know the SIGNIFICANCE of your | | | | was derived from the Latin word "granatus," |
| birthstone and what power the ancients felt would | | | | meaning "grain" or "seed." Garnet earned its name |
| be bestowed about you by wearing it. | | | | because of its close resemblance to the succulent |
| January's birthstone: Garnet | | | | red pomegranate seed. But don't bite into a |
| Garnet Powers: Facilitates night vision, ensures | | | | garnet! Like a diamond, a garnet is strong. It has a |
| success | | | | Moh's scale hardness 6.5 to 7.5...definitely not |
| Alternative Birthstone: Emerald | | | | tooth-friendly. |
| Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January | | | | A Greek myth tells the story of Peresphone, the |
| and the traditional anniversary gemstone for the | | | | young goddess of sunshine, who was abducted |
| second year of marriage. Archaeologists have | | | | by Hades, god of the underworld. The devil |
| found primitive garnet jewelry among the graves | | | | eventually released her, but not before he |
| of lake dwellers which dates the use of this | | | | offered her some pomegranate seeds, which |
| popular gemstone to the Bronze age. Today they | | | | guaranteed her return to him. Thus garnets have |
| are mined in Brazil, India, Madagascar, India, | | | | come to represent fidelity and commitment. |
| Siberia, Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United States. | | | | Rich Traditions |
| Not all garnets are of gem quality. "Raw" garnets | | | | Legends, myths, and traditions abound when it |
| make a very effective abrasive and used | | | | comes to garnets. It is believed to be one of the |
| commercially for grinding and polishing. Believe it or | | | | 12 gemstones in Aaron's breastplate in the |
| not, garnet-coated sandpaper is popular for | | | | Hebrew tradition while Christians consider it is |
| industrial use. | | | | symbolic of Christ's sacrifice and the blood of their |
| Color Me Beautiful | | | | savior. Many faiths claim that Noah hung a large |
| Garnets are extremely diverse and offer enough | | | | red garnet in the ark for illumination. In the Koran, |
| variety in appearance (and color) to suit every | | | | garnets are believed to illuminate the Fourth |
| taste. Although you may think of garnet as a red | | | | Heaven of the Moslems. On a more earthly plane, |
| gem, the truth is that the garnet family of | | | | Egyptians believed that garnets protected them |
| gemstones comes in a broad spectrum of colors, | | | | from snakebite and was an antidote to food |
| except blue. | | | | poisoning. |
| Garnets of muted yellows, vibrant oranges, rosy | | | | A gift of garnet is thought to be symbolic of love |
| pinks, lime greens, and violets are all part this | | | | and the desire for a loved one's safe travel and |
| gemstone's rainbow of hues. The diversity is due | | | | speedy homecoming. It is January's birthstone, but |
| to unique combinations of elements within each | | | | far from being only a winter gem, the garnet, |
| particular gem, such as iron, calcium, and | | | | with its brilliance and multitude of colors, is truly |
| manganese. | | | | one for any season. |