Where did 'birthstones' come from and why?

Question

Why are there specific birthstones for each month? Who came up with the idea? Why?
I've considered maybe it was a pagan thing since 'New Agers' use crystals for all sorts of things and belive powers of certain crystals are heighted at certain times. But this is just my guess, anyone have an answer?

Answer 1

The origin of the birthstone goes back thousands of years to the time of Moses. It was at his command that the Breast Plate of the High Priest was made with the twelve colors, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, and a corresponding gemstone was attributed to each color. Over the centuries, the number twelve developed mystical proportions. There were twelve tribes of ancient Israel, twelve apostles, twelve foundation stones of the Holy City, twelve months of the year and twelve signs of the zodiac. As time passed, people wanted to own all twelve stones of the sacred Breast Plate and began wearing one gemstone set into a piece of jewelry each month and changing it as the months changed. Eventually, in a quest for individuality, people began wearing only his or her stone of birth all year, giving birth to the twelve birthstones. Each birthstone supposedly represents a magical power. Some were said to ward off evil, protect the wearer in battle, cure blindness, gout and palsy, and even immunize the wearer from drunkenness.

Answer 2

The true origins of the meaning of birthstones may very well be buried somewhere in antiquity.

The birthstone business seems to have got reborn back in the 1960s. I say this, because it was about then when people began polishing stones at home and selling them on. This was all part of the New Age, Pagan, Hippie thing.

As a Celt, I am not convinced about birthstones. Think they're just a made up thing, most probably starting in the 1960s, along with a load of other crap, such as Father's day which only exists in the minds of people outside the Christian Faith which has Mothering Sunday [Mother's Day], etc. It's really all about money.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Where did 'birthstones' come from and why?
Why are there specific birthstones for each month? Who came up with the idea? Why?
I've considered maybe it was a pagan thing since 'New Agers' use crystals for all sorts of things and belive powers of certain crystals are heighted at certain times. But this is just my guess, anyone...

Answer 4

"Around the world and throughout the ages, people have noticed and appreciated the beauty of gemstones, often assigning these gems special powers. But how did certain gemstones become associated with the months of the year? Historians think that the first written record comes from the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. Here, the breastplate of the Hebrews' high priest is described as having twelve specific gems, one for each of Israel's twelve tribes.

Over time, gems with special colors became associated with the twelve signs of the zodiac, which correspond roughly with the months of the year. Each sign has its own name and its own characteristics. Those born under a particular sign are thought by some people to be influenced by that sign and to share common traits.

The custom of wearing birthstones probably first became popular in Poland in the fifteenth or sixteenth century. For more information about the history of birthstones, try The Curious Lore of Precious Stones by George Frederick Kunz, a fascinating compendium of all the powers that have been associated with gemstones through the ages. For example, everyone originally may have worn the birthstone for each month, since the powers of the gemstone were heightened during its month. If that is true, to get the full effect, you need to go out and get a full set of twelve and rotate them each month.

Most gem scholars agree that the tradition of birthstones arose from the Breastplate of Aaron: a ceremonial religious garment set with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel and also corresponded with the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the year. "It was square -- a span [22 centimeters] long and a span wide -- and folded double. Then they mounted four rows of precious stones on it. In the first row there was a ruby, a topaz and a beryl; in the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and an emerald; in the third row a jacinth, an agate and an amethyst; in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings. There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes." (Old Testament, New International Version, Exodus, Chapter 39, vs. 9-14)

Because ancient people did not always classify gemstones by mineral species like we do, there is some debate about which gemstones were set in the breastplate and why. Because of this, different cultures around the world have developed different birth stone lists. The modern day list that you know is only the most recent list: some older lists still exist. Some also argue that the proper way to assign gemstones is according to astrological sign and not month. It is more fun to choose the gemstone that speaks to you from all the possibilities."

Answer 5

Birth stones are known from times immemmorial.In the ancient times giving valuables on birthday became a custom.Precious stones were ideal.Later on astrology linked man's fortune with various planets,stones etc and stones became more popular.Belief that birthstones bring luck was reinforced by Egyptian astrologers,followed by Hindu astrolgers.There is no scientific basis for this belief.The effect may be psychological.
Commerical marketing of birthstones by multi nationals started in 1960.It is all sales techniques.
No stone can change your life unless you work hard.Do not waste money on that.

Answer 6

The origin of the belief that every month of the year was devoted to a particular stone and this stone gave some properties to those who are born in this month and for whom it was a Birthstone, we need back to the writings of Josephus in I. BC and St. Jerome at the beginning of V.

Both of these authors clearly indicate the relationship between the twelve stones Chest priests and twelve months of the year, and the twelve Signs of the Zodiac. Despite these early indications, the custom of wearing matching stones was not observed until relatively recent centuries.

The origin of the custom to wear Birthstones can be explained by the fact that the properties ascribed to each individual stone, especially medicinal properties have been the cause of wearing stones, «appropriate» disease. In addition, Birthstone in its effects could match the deep desire of man.

In other words, in the customary wear certain stones was a belief in the special properties of the stone, which originated long before as becoming recognized as a mystic connection between the stone and the month of a person (born in this month). Perhaps that is why the custom of wearing Birthstones spread relatively late.

The order in which the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem in Revelation transferred to the order months of the year and, therefore, the sequence of Birthstones.

The first stone was attributed to St.. Peter and March (to the chief apostle and to the month of the vernal equinox), the second – to April, the third – to May, etc.

However, many centuries later (probably in Poland), with help of rabbis or by Jewish merchants stones, spread custom to wearing Birthstones and this order was changed.

Source: http://www.birthstonesonline.com/

Answer 7

There have been many different sets of birthstones used throughout history and in different cultures. In 1912, in an effort to standardize them, the American national association of jewelers, Jewelers of America, officially adopted the following list; it is currently the most widely used list in the United States and many other locations, including Australia and Thailand. Some alternates have been adopted to be a less expensive substitute for a cut stone.

Also, there seems to be links in the bible and new age material.

See my source below.

Answer 8

Because people still enjoy the folklore associated with the tradition of birthstone. They belive that wearing a birthstone bring them good luck and protects them

Answer 9

A birthstone is a gift of a precious material (jewelry, mainly gemstones; themselves traditionally associated with various qualities) that symbolizes the month of birth (in the Gregorian Calendar).

get more info below link:

Answer 10

because it was supposedly lucky and like u said a power thing lol and supposedly to make a voodoo doll work u need a persons hair and there birthe stone... weird... i read it in a book