It’s finally time to welcome in the new year, and make our peace with the ending of 2017. The new year brings new beginnings and new adventures. It’s still cold, we’re still shoveling our walks and braving the frigid air outside, but there is still so much to come in the new year. We have the chance to make this year count and be the best possible versions of ourselves.

As we inch along the winter months, we celebrate the January birthdays and the beautiful garnet stone that exemplifies them.

GARNET IS A UNIQUE SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE, EXHIBITING THE WIDEST SPECTRUM OF COLOR OF ANY STONE. THE MOST COMMON COLOR OF GARNET, HOWEVER, IS A DEEP FIERY RED. GARNET IS THE FIRST BIRTHSTONE OF THE YEAR, CALLED THE “GEM OF FAITH,” AND IS SAID TO ENTRUST SOMEONE WITH ETERNAL HAPPINESS, WEALTH, AND HEALTH. FOR AGES, THE GARNET HAS BEEN USED AS A TALISMAN FOR PROTECTION, TO WARD OFF DEATH AND INJURY. THE STONE SIGNIFIES TRUTH, VICTORY, FRIENDSHIP, PROTECTION, AND PURITY, WHILE IT IS ALSO SAID TO POSSESS CURATIVE POWERS, WITH ILLNESS RELATING TO THE HEART, LUNGS, AND BLOOD.

• Garnet exists in many colors, such as black, green, or even colorless, however, it is most associated with the deep red hue.
• The stone is not mined underground, but instead found as small pebbles in streams and other places where water is present.
• They were prized possessions of ancient warriors and said to bring success and victory.
• In medieval times, the stone was thought to cure depression and offer protection against poison, wounds, and bad dreams.