Transcript of the poem above DECEMBER Winter is here - Let us welcome him on, Remember Old Christmas is near; And when Christmas with all his gay feasting has gone, Why then we've the merry New Year; Here's a health to the rich who will give to the poor, Let Plenty and Mercy ne'er part, And though bitter winds blow through the white clouds of snow, No Winter shall fall on the heart. ELIZA COOK

 

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December

December stems from the Latin word decem for ten (decimus 10^th) and was the 10^th month in the old Roman calendar.

Astrological Signs

Sagittarius Nov 22–Dec 21  Capricorn Dec 22–Jan 20

December Birthstones are Turquoise, Zircon, Topaz, and now Tanzanite.

Turquoise is believed to be a good luck stone bringing prosperity.  It has been used since ancient times and features in Egyptian jewellery of the Pyramid decorations.  Turquoise is also a favourite of Native Americans, particularly the Navajo Indians who made charm pieces used by their medicine men.  A great deal of western jewellery designs feature turquoise, as does Boho style fashion and costume jewellery.

Topaz comes in many forms with the blue variety being a December birthstone.  The blue topaz ranges from pale blue to deep blue with London Blue having an intense brightness.

(The yellow amber toned Topaz is the November birthstone choice alongside citrine.)

In its time, Zircon has been thought to hold magical powers of protection against evil.  It should not be confused with cubic Zirconia!  The red Zircon is the most prized of Zircons, but the stone breaks easily compared to other gems.

Tanzanite is a beautiful colour with purple tones on blue.  It was discovered in 1967 in Tanzania in East Africa.   Tanzanite is the most recent gem to be added to the Birthstone list in 2003 by the American Gem Trade Association.

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.

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