Traditions

Traditions are a part of us. Whether they are of familial, cultural, or religious roots, they seem somehow to lend a sense of meaning and purpose to our lives.

Perhaps some of us make much more of them than we ought to, and some of us perhaps ought to value them more!

Nevertheless, it can probably be agreed by all of us, at least to some degree, that these little rituals do provide a greater sense of who we are, and of being a part of something greater than just ourselves.

The history of birthstones goes back for centuries. People have long held to the belief that the wearing of one's particular birthstone would bring good luck.

In some ancient cultures, a specific gemstone was linked to each Zodiac sign. Over time, this tradition evolved to simply associate a gemstone with each of the 12 months of the Gregorian calendar.

Likewise, the association of flowers with a particular month has been around for some time.
This tradition enjoyed great popularity in the Victorian era, but seems to be enjoying something of a comeback of late.

Following is a list of gemstones which have traditionally been associated with each month, along with that month's flower.

You can also click here to find meanings for the various birthstones; the page includes a mix of traditional folklore, non-traditional beliefs about gemstone properties, and actual data.