Birthday

A birthday is the date on which a person was born. It is customary in many cultures to celebrate the anniversary of one's birthday in some way, for example by having a birthday party with friends in which gifts are given. It is also customary to treat someone especially well and generally accede to their wishes on their birthday.

Birthday gift symbolism

Birthstones

A birthstone, sometimes also called birthday stone

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There have been many different sets of birthstones used throughout history and in different cultures, but in 1912 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 places:

Related Topics:
1912 - Jewelers of America - United States

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• January : Garnet
• February : Amethyst
• March : Aquamarine or Bloodstone
• April : Diamond
• May : Emerald
• June : Pearl(the only non-gem) OR Moonstone OR Alexandrite
• July : Ruby
• August : Peridot OR Chalcedony|Sardonyx and Sapphire
• September : Sapphire
• October : Opal OR Tourmaline
• November : Topaz (appararantly not in blue, cr. infra)
• December : Turquoise OR Lapis lazuli OR Zircon

(artificial diamond) OR Topaz|Blue topaz

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Zodiac stones

This is an astrologic version of the birthstones, using zodiac signs in stead of months of birth, and one completely different stone (the only link) :

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• Aquarius (January 21 To February 21) Garnet
• Pisces (February 21 To March 21) Amethyst
• Aries (March 21 To April 20) Diamond
• Taurus (April 20 To May 21) Sapphire
• Gemini (May 21 To June 21) Spinel
• Cancer (June 21 To July 22) Emerald
• Leo (July 22 To August 22) Opal
• Virgo (August 22 To September 22) Opal
• Libra (September 22 To October 23) Peridot
• Scorpio O(Ctober 23 To November 21) Aquamarine
• Sagittarius (November 21 To December 21) Topaz
• Capricorn (December 21 To January 21) Ruby

Birthday stones

While this word has also been used as synonym of Birth stone (see above), there is a separate list of assignment according to the day of the week of the recipient's birth:

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• Monday : Pearl (again the only non-gem)
• Tuesday : Garnet
• Wednesday : Cat's eye (not in the lists above)
• Thursday : Emerald
• Friday : Topaz
• Saturday : Sapphire
• Sunday : Ruby