What Is The Birthstone for January 2nd? 

Shiny, brilliantly colorful, and breathtaking. Every person in the world desires to own gemstones or wear them in the form of intricate jewelry pieces. But do you know that many people love to wear gemstones as they believe they will bring good fortune and health to their life?

Thus the term “birthstones” came out, as humankind has attributed certain magical powers and supernatural elements to specified gemstones. Each birthstone is designated by a zodiac sign, day of the week, or birth month.

What Is the Birthstone for January 2nd?

If you were born on the second day of January, then your birthstone is garnet. The exciting part is that you have won one of the most beautiful gemstones that don’t come in a single color but a variety of colors ranging from a sensational blood red to a stunning deep green color.

Garnet has been considered a symbol of strength, commitment, and perseverance in both ancient and modern times. The characteristic red color symbolizes love and life, which is related to endurance in front of enemies, healing from illnesses, and protection from misfortune and emotional trauma.

History, Legends, and Folklore Associated With the January Birthstone

Garnet has earned its place as an important birthstone out of the 12 gemstones originating from the Breastplate of Aaron. Throughout its history, garnet has been sought after due to its healing and protective nature. The birthstone grants strength and endurance to the wounded and sick, which convinced many healers in the past to use this stone to treat their patients.

In ancient Rome, warriors would use garnets as a talisman for protection against enemies and the strength required on the battlefield. The gemstones eventually made their way into the hands of royals, who started using the beautiful red stones in jewelry items.

The remnants of this durable gemstone date back to the Egyptian era, which made a lot of people believe that Egyptians also used this stone to ward off illnesses, depression, and bad spirits.

The word garnet is derived from the Latin word granatum, which means pomegranate. The reason for this namesake is that the red coloration of these stones resembles pomegranate seeds, which is why several Victorian and Anglo-Saxon jewelry lovers used clusters of garnets to create intricate patterns in jewelry items called pomegranate jewelry.  

The Versatility of Garnets

Garnets are widely used as gemstones and jewelry pieces. Many gemstone collectors value garnets because of their stunning depths of colors that range from red, green, yellow, orange, and violet.

The most commonly found garnet is almandine, which is normally an opaque red stone. However, there is another transparent variety of almandine, which is collected as a treasured gemstone. 

Pyrope is another well-known but rare variety of garnet. Its distinctive color resembles the red coloration of ruby. An intermediate variety of pyrope and almandine is known as Rhodolite. Rhodolite has a stunning color that looks more violet or rose-red than deep red.

Spessartite garnets are sought after due to their rare neon orange coloration. Being the most stunning gemstone in the garnets family, its orange-red color attracts many gemstone collectors due to its brilliance and unique sparkle.

Grossular garnets are another incredible variety of garnets, as it comes in the most varicolored forms, which are almost colorless, ranging from a very pale greenish yellow to yellow color.

If you think that emerald is the most beautiful green gemstone out there, you must have never seen a tsavorite garnet. Known as one of the most unique and rare garnet varieties, tsavorite garnets give tough competition to every other green gem due to their deep green color that comes from their chromium composition.

Talking about the green varieties, there is another lovely garnet variety that is known for its grass-green color, the demantoid.

How Is the Garnet’s Birthstone Meaning Associated With Its Color?

Due to modern chemical analysis techniques, a huge variety of garnets are found in varying colors and vibrancies. However, in previous times, the garnets were commonly associated with their blood-red color. 

This vibrant red suggested that garnets are effective protectors and healers against anything that opposes life. Thus garnets were used by ancient humankind to heal wounds and protect people from injury and afflictions.

Today, there are various colors of garnets discovered, and each unique color is associated with its characteristic supernatural powers.

The deep red color of almandine symbolizes love, passion, and performance. It is related to joy and freedom from evil and negative energies. 

The ruby red color of pyrope represents the gentle and unifying forces that keep our heart beating, and the birthstone helps us regain lost strength and passion.

Rhodolite has a beautiful rose-red color that contributes to emotional healing and compassion. It promotes kindness and inspiration in a person, receding all the negative energies away from its wearer’s life.

Spessartite garnets have a bright orange color that represents a clear auric field that will attract good fortune, opportunities, and a lover. The bright neon color symbolizes creativity and sexual attraction.

Grossular garnets are a representation of empowerment and hope.

The deep and unique colors of tsavorite garnets are a symbol of prosperity and discovering the benevolence and compassion within.

The lush green color of demantoid garnet strengthens the hearts’ chakra and helps a person with body illnesses like arthritis, liver problems, and mental problems like insecurity and fear.

Garnet – Birthstone Meaning

Garnet is a beautiful birthstone that you can wear if you were born on January 2nd. It represents love and friendship and heals the wounds that are attributed to physical ailments or broken hearts. 

Alternative and Traditional Birthstones for January

Birthstones are not just associated with the month you are born in. If you are unable to find or afford your birthstone for your birth month, then you can go for alternative options that will bring equally positive and beneficial results in your life. 

Zodiac

Those people who are born in January either fall under the Zodiac signs Capricorn or Aquarius. You were born on the second day of January. Hence your Zodiac sign is Capricorn, which means that your alternate birthstone is Ruby.

Now shouldn’t you thank your lucky stars for blessing you with such a wonderful alternative birthstone? Rubies are well known and well-loved for their deep red color that determines passion and love.

The ruby birthstone resembles the garnets in their color and symbolism, as both birthstones have a characteristic red color that represents blood and life. Thus you can wear ruby as a necklace or bracelet to invite positive energies, strength, and courage into your life.

Days of the week

Alternatively, every day in the week has its own ruling planet, which determines an appropriate birthstone for every person.

If you were born on a Monday, you could wear the beautiful moonstone that will bring purpose, clarity, and intuition to your life.

Those who were born on Tuesday can wear rubies for energy, love, and passion.

Wednesday borns can wear the balanced and calm emerald, and Thursday borns can wear a yellow sapphire for prosperity, luck, and happiness.

The people born on a Friday can wear the beautiful diamond for beauty, and those born on Saturday can wear a blue sapphire that represents sincerity, faith, and loyalty in life.

The people born on Sunday can wear citrine that represents radiance, energy, and abundance of prosperity and success in their life.

Facts and FAQs About Garnet Birthstone 

What Happened on January 2nd? Facts About This Day in History

• Isaac Asimov, the well-known author of the book I, Robot, was born in 1920.
• In 2004, NASA’s spacecraft collected cometary dust, which was revealed to contain glycine, an amino acid essential for life.
• The popular German actor Emil Jannings died in 2950.
• The Ibrox disaster happened in Glasgow, Scotland, where almost 66 football fans were crushed to death at an Old Firm Football game.

Conclusion

If you are recently getting obsessed with birthstones and the meanings they hold, you have a whole world to explore. There are endless characteristics, historical facts, and unique information revolving around every gemstone.

If you are one of those fortunate people born on January 2nd, you can always find a garnet near you to wear as a form of jewelry or collect as a gemstone. What’s even better than that is the fact that garnets are available in a variety of colors, so you can always buy the one that fits your own personality and the kind of positive energy you are hoping to bring into your life.

References

• https://www.antiqueanimaljewelry.com/post/garnet
• https://geology.com/minerals/garnet.shtml
• https://www.americangemsociety.org/birthstones/january-birthstone/
• https://www.minerals.net/gemstone/garnet_gemstone.aspx
• https://www.crystalvaults.com/crystal-encyclopedia/garnet/#:~:text=Garnet%20balances%20energy%2C%20bringing%20serenity,patterns%20and%20boosts%20self%2Dconfidence.
• https://www.britannica.com/science/garnet/Origin-and-occurrence
• https://www.gia.edu/birthstones/january-birthstones
• https://www.almanac.com/january-birthstone-color-and-meaning
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/birthstone-gemstone
• https://fiercelynxdesigns.com/blogs/articles/list-of-traditional-and-alternative-birthstones
• https://www.gemselect.com/gemstones-by-date/january-1st.php
• https://www.gemporia.com/en-gb/gemology-hub/article/631/a-history-of-birthstones-and-the-breastplate-of-aaron/#:~:text=Used%20to%20communicate%20with%20God,used%20to%20determine%20God’s%20will.
• https://www.thespruce.com/your-zodiac-birthstones-chart-by-month-1274603
• https://www.naj.co.uk/zodiac-birthstones-jewellery.