Birthstone Traditions - By: Rachael Stone

Though we know that birthstones were started long ago, even experts can't agree on when. We know they have been used for thousands of years. According to some historians they began being used 4500 years ago. The ancient Sumerians or Egyptians carried stones recommended by astrologers of the time. The birth stones were determined by one's birth time and how they related to the planets movement. These colored stones were to provide them with magical abilities associated with the gems.

The Western birthstone system probably originated out of the writings of two early authors. They were Josephus (writing in the first century AD) and St. Jerome (writing during the fifth century AD). Both of them trace the custom of wearing certain types of gems to the stones that stood for the 12 tribes of Israel. They also corresponded with the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the year, appearing on the Hebrew High Priest's Breastplate. This breastplate was originally worn by the brother of Moses, Aaron, as referred to in Exodus 28:15-20:15-20).

One example of the stones mentioned in this system follows:

+ Stone 1 - Aries was represented by Carnelian

+ Stone 2 - Taurus has been symbolized using Peridot

+ Stone 3 - Gemini was regarded to use Emerald

+ Stone 4 - Cancer was demonstrated by Ruby

+ Stone 5 - Leo used the gemstone Lapis Lazuli

+ Stone 6 - Virgo has been associated with Onyx

+ Stone 7 - Libra used beautiful Sapphire

+ Stone 8 - Scorpio was represented by Agate

+ Stone 9 - Sagittarius was symbolized by Sapphire

+ Stone 10 - Capricorn was shown with Yellow Topaz (Citrine)

+ Stone 11 - Aquarius was displayed by Beryl

+ Stone 12 - Pisces was exhibited by Jasper

The stones that have been associated with each month have changed frequently throughout the years. One reason is that the actual identification of gemstones has been haphazard and was often based on the description of the color, not the actual mineral composition of the stone. This led to confusion between gems like garnet and ruby.

Even today, historians argue over exactly what stones appeared on the breastplate, depending on which translation of the Bible is consulted. The custom of wearing birthstones eventually began to die after the mid-1500's in Europe, but some sources indicate that the custom was revived again in Poland during the 18th century.

The transition from stones that were linked with astrological signs, planets or star signs to being chosen for specific months came with the early movement of Christianity as it spread throughout pagan lands. The church sought to eliminate the importance of astrology, especially among pagan converts, and gemstone lore instead linked stones with the twelve apostles. Sometime thereafter, a belief that all people born in a certain month became wards of a specific guardian angel arose where specific gems were assigned to each angel, adding to existing birthstone lore.

The most common listing of birthstones that people refer to today, also known as the "traditional" listing (sometimes also called the "modern" listing even though it contains stones from older sources), was adopted officially in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers to aid in jewelry sales. This is generally the list of birthstones referred to in the US. Once people become interested in wearing birthstones again, less costly gemstones were specified as alternatives for some of the very rare gems. These alternates were chosen because the color is very close to the original stone on the list.

Even on this "official" list there is considerable leeway possible for a few of the months. As an example, a person that is born in the month of June can choose pearl, moonstone, or alexandrite, and an individual with a March birthday can choose either bloodstone or aquamarine. Tanzanite was added as an alternative for December by the American Gem Trade Association in October of 2002, but was virtually unknown when the original list was compiled.

Consider choosing your birth stones using their colors as follows:

* January -- Dark Red

* February -- Purple

* March -- Pale Blue

* April -- Clear

* May -- Bright Green

* June -- Cream

* July -- Bright Red

* August -- Pale Green

* September -- Deep Blue

* October -- Variegated

* November -- Yellow

* December -- Sky Blue

If you find you don't like the stone for your birth month, you can also choose a birthstone based on the day of the week you were born on. Stones that correspond include:

* Sunday - Topaz (any color)

* Monday - Pearl

* Tuesday - Ruby

* Wednesday - Amethyst

* Thursday - Sapphire

* Friday - Carnelian

* Saturday - Turquoise

Cheaper stones like Swarovski crystals in the color of a gemstone let almost anyone afford to wear a stone that simulates the color of the gem assigned to their birth month or day.

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