Birthstone for February

"The February born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they, the amethyst will wear." ~ Anonymous

A birthstone is a gemstone traditionally related to a person's birth date and is generally thought to bring good luck and health to that particular person. It is available in a colorful array of sparkling jewels and glowing gemstones, where each stone has its own story in history and myth. From the annals of history till the time today, these stones have made a special faith in the hearts as well as minds of human race.

Amethyst
The twelve zodiac signs are an astrological interpretation of birthstones along with the twelve calendar months. The birthstone for February, amethsyt is considered to be the birthstone for all Aquarians. i.e. people born between January 20 - February 18. The term amethyst is basically derived from the Greek word amethystos meaning remedy against drunkenness which is clearly reflected in the attributes of this stone.

Amethyst belongs to the Quartz (silicon dioxide) family and comes in different shades of violet and bluish violet colors. Once considered to be more precious than diamonds, amethyst is a popular gem used in jewelry. Also it is a naturally occurring crystal found within the rocks, having a hexagonal crystal structure. The deposits of this gemstone are commonly found in Brazil, Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia, Russia, Sri Lanka, India and United States.

Color
Pale lilac, red-violet, deep rich purple are some traditional colors associated with this February birthstone. The meaning of these colors through generations have reflected different aspects of life. Socially as well as religiously, Christian symbolism were all reflected in the color purple which originally has a symbolic meaning of repentance and mourning.

Properties
Some of the properties associated with this birthstone of February include stability, peace, balance, courage, internal strength, sincerity and a calm disposition. Its healing properties are quite well-known and effective in treating health problems relating to the withdrawal symptoms of any sort of addiction, headaches, insomnia, arthritis, pain relief, circulatory system problems and general healing. With reference to its Greek name, amethyst is also considered as sobriety stone, believed to prevent drunkenness and treat alcoholism and other types of addictions. Hence, it acts as a stabilizing force for those trying to overcome addictive behavior.

History of Amethyst
The history of amethyst takes us back to the story from Greco-Roman mythology as mentioned in the book 'Birthstones' by Willard Heaps. According to this book, Bacchus - the God of Wine in classical mythology, was outraged by Diana, the huntress. For revenge, he declared that the first person he would meet on his way through the forest would be eaten by his tigers. But the first person to cross his path was an attractive maiden, Amethyst who was on her way to worship at the shrine of Diana. In terror, she called upon the goddess to save her, and in front of his eyes, she transformed in to a pure white, sparkling image of stone. Realizing his mistake and to repent his cruelty, Bacchus poured grape wine over her, thus giving the stone the exquisite violet hue of the amethyst. Hence, the carryover to non intoxication was quite relevant, and so in ancient Rome, amethyst cups were commonly used for wine so that the drinkers would have no fear of overindulgence.

Besides this, the early Egyptians believed that the amethyst possessed good powers, and so used to keep the stones in the tombs of pharaohs. Also during medieval period, the stone was used as a medication to drive away sleep, sharpen intellect, and save the wearer from sorcery or black magic. Moreover, it was also thought to bring victory in battle. According to the Arabian mythology, the amethyst was supposed to protect the wearer from bad dreams and gout, hence was conceived as a stone of loyalty and power.

February Birthstone Chart
To summarize, here is a chart that will work as a quick glance guide regarding the respective dates and information about the birthstones and flowers associated with the month, February and Aquarius zodiac sign, along with the meaning, symbolism and different personality traits.

Attributes	Meanings
Colors of the Amethyst	Lilac, purple, mauve
Symbolism of the Amethyst	Stability, peace, balance, courage, inner strength, sincerity and a calm disposition
Alternative Birthstones	Garnet and Jasper
Birth Flower	The Violet
Symbolism of the February Birth Flower	Faithfulness, humility, and chastity
Personality Traits of Aquarius	Independent, Creative, Entertaining, Stimulating & Progressive

So, the next time if someone asks what is the birthstone of February, I am sure after reading this article you will have loads to tell him/her. Hence, this precious and exquisite stone can be used in all types of jewelry like rings, brooches, pins, cuff links, bracelets, pendants, earrings and necklaces and can be selected as a special gift for your February born loved one.