Birthstones: January - Garnet

Hi all!  Each month we're going to have myths and legends to get your inspired in your jewellery making.  For 2014 what better place to start than a whole group of jewellery makers favourite shinies?  Yep, birthstones!  We'll do a bit about the stone, and then some myths and legends associated with it.  To start, here is January's birthstone: Garnet.  

Garnet is actually the name for a group of silicates with various amounts of magnesium, iron or calcium.  These come in shades of green, red, yellow, and orange.

It is normally the dark red Alandine we see representing the birthstone.

The name “Garnet” comes from the Latin “granatus” meaning seed or grain.  It is thought that this is a reference to the pomegranate seeds, which have the same deep red colour.

The Legend of Persephone and Hades

Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the earth goddess.

Legend tells Hades, god of the underworld, kidnapped Demeter and took her to the underworld to be his bride.  Demeter was beside herself with grief, and wandered the earth searching for her daughter, carrying two burning torches in her hands.  As a result the land that was her domain became unfertile.  Plants withered and died, animals bore no offspring, and death stalked mankind.

The gods approached Demeter and begged her to resume her care of the earth, but she refused to do so until she was reunited with her daughter.

Finally Zeus, King of the gods, intervened.  He sent Hermes the messenger god to the underworld to request Hades return Persephone.

Hades agreed, but before he let Persephone go, he gave her pomegranate seeds of which she ate.

Persephone returned to the light and air, and Demeter rejoiced and lifted her curse of the earth.  However, those that eat the food of the underworld are obliged to stay there.  Because Persephone had eaten the pomegranate seeds, she would have to return to Hades.

So Zeus commanded that she would split her time between Hades and Demeter, living for a third of each year in the underworld and two thirds in the land of the living.

So each year when Persephone travels to the underworld, Demeter grieves and all living things wither until her daughter returns, and with her the spring.

It is thought that this legend is the origin of the garnet being associated with keeping travellers safe.  Like the pomegranate seeds that Hades gives to Persephone to ensure her return to him, garnets which resemble the seeds were given to ensure a safe return.

Other properties attributed to the stone is the ability to heal wounds, prevent bad dreams and cure depression.  Not bad!

You can easily get hold of some lovely garnet to make a piece for this month at an affordable price, so if you want to make a special piece for someone about to go on a journey, or perhaps for a January birthday, why not pick up some beads and experiment? :)