The emerald, the May birthstone and a representation of rebirth, is thought to bestow upon its wearer wisdom, luck, and youth. The Greek term emerald, which is derived from the word smaragdus, literally translates to “green.”
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What birthstone actually belongs to May?
The May birthstone, emerald, has long been adored because it symbolizes renewal and rebirth. Emerald is the ideal color for spring and is frequently referred to as the definition of green. The emerald, the birthstone for May, has captivated people’s hearts and minds throughout history, from the poetic description of Ireland as “the Emerald Isle” to the famous gemstone’s own vivid green hue.
Variations of this calming, lush green color conjure up gardens. Emeralds were originally thought to be able to treat conditions like cholera and malaria, and legend has it that wearing one can increase one’s intelligence and quickness. It is now the traditional gift for a couple’s 20th and 35th wedding anniversary.
What shade is May?
The May birthstone, emerald, has a lovely bright tone and carries the deep green hue of Spring. They are viewed as a representation of love and rebirth. The most uncommon gemstone, emeralds are primarily mined in Zambia, Afghanistan, Zambia, Brazil, Colombia, and Brazil.
What color birthstone represents June?
Alexandrite with Pearl for June June’s birthstones are as distinctive as they come because she has two, Pearl & Alexandrite, as her birthstones. The Alexandrite is incredibly uncommon and capable of “color-changing,” appearing green in natural light and shifting to a purple-red hue in incandescent or artificial light.
What crystal represents May?
The American Gem Society states that emerald is the birthstone for May. Agate is the customary alternate gemstone for May. Rough and polished varieties of Emerald and Agate are available at Crystal Joys.
What color is my birthday?
See What Yours Is: Each Birth Month Has a Different Color and Meaning!
- January. the hue caramel.
- February. Lilac color, sheer.
- March. Fair Aqua in color.
- Cayenne color. April.
- Color: Bud Green. May.
- June. Aspen Gold in color.
- July. Coral-colored blush.
- Color: Sun Orange; August.
What symbolizes the month of May?
May serves as a transitional month between spring and summer, warming things up for those who are already well on their way while hinting at warmer weather for others still clinging to spring.
Recipes for the Season
It’s the time of year for seasonal, fresh foods! For inspiration, look through our collection of spring recipes.
Try some of these dishes made using the first harvests of the year:
Avocado Frittata
Everyday Advice
- Wedding season is quickly approaching. On our wedding planner page, you may learn about the weather, sunset times, folklore, and more.
- Don’t worry yourself! We have remedies for stress and anxiety that can help.
- cleaning season? Seek for DIY cleaning solutions and other helpful advice for your home.
Gardening Tips
- For information on planting, producing, and harvesting your preferred home crops, consult our free Growing Guides for all of your favorite fruits, veggies, and herbs.
- By luring hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden in May, you can celebrate new life. Check out our listings of plants that draw butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Plant window boxes to mark the beginning of the flowering season!
- Moles begin to emerge in the middle of spring. See our page on mole management.
May Birth Symbols
The lily of the valley represents sweetness or the return of happiness, while the hawthorn represents optimism. Find out more about May’s natal flower.
Several interesting emerald facts:
- An example of a beryl stone is the emerald. Its hues range from pale to deep green, and the more saturated ones are more valuableespecially if they are pure or blue-greenthan the less saturated ones.
- Natural emeralds have flaws called inclusions, which can look as mineral needles, columns, cubes, bubbles of gas or liquid, or fractures or other elements mixed in. In order to patch cracks and enhance aesthetics, oil or resin may occasionally be used.
- Although the oldest known emerald is said to have originated in Egypt, some of the greatest ones are found in South American mines. Cleopatra’s preferred gem was the emerald.
- The emerald was believed to offer foresight, treat numerous maladies, calm nerves, enhance memory, and ensure loyalty. It also symbolized rebirth and fertility.
This Month in History
Swedish botanist and naturalist Carl Linnaeus was born on this date in 1707. One of his greatest accomplishments was the formal adoption of the binomial nomenclature, a system of naming and classifying creatures according to genus and species. The approach employs Latin terms (a language commonly used by scholars in his day). Humans are categorized as Homo sapiens, for instance. The word “man” comes from the genus homo, and the word “intelligent” comes from the species sapiens. One genus may have several species, but every species only has one scientific name. A modified version of Linnaeus’ approach is still in use today. There is less misunderstanding when discussing organisms because the same naming convention is used everywhere.
The usage of the numbers 0 (the sign for Mars) and 1 (the symbol for Venus) to denote gender was invented by Carl Linnaeus.
May 26: Terrifying Twisters
101 persons were killed by tornadoes that hit central Illinois on this day in 1917. The outbreak was eventually found to consist of four to eight tornadoes, as opposed to the initial assumption that there was just one tornado that caused devastation along a 293-mile-long course. One of them covered a 155-mile route and lasted four hours (including the distance traveled while in the air). Charleston and Mattoon were particularly heavily struck by an
What color is the birthstone for June?
Pearls are biological, in contrast to the majority of gemstones discovered on Earth. Simply said, they develop within specific varieties of oyster and clam shells. Some pearls are naturally occurring in mollusks that live in freshwater or saltwater, such as rivers. Today, a large number of pearls are cultured, or grown in oyster farms, which supports a robust pearl business. Aragonite, a moderately soft carbonate mineral (CaCO3) that also makes up mollusc shells, is the main component of pearls.
When a tiny rock piece, sand grain, or parasite enters the mollusk’s shell, a pearl is created. The oyster or clam reacts by covering the foreign substance with successive layers of shell material because it bothers them. The majority of pearls that form on the inside of the shell have a skewed shape and little commercial value. The spherical or pear-shaped ones, which originate within the mollusk’s tissue, are much sought for for jewelry.
Pearls come in several colors
Pearls are among the most expensive gemstones due to their distinctively delicate translucence and shine. The type of mollusk that created the pearl as well as its surroundings affect the hue. Generally speaking, white pearls are the most popular and well-known color. But pearls also come in delicate tones of mauve, blue, yellow, lavender, green, cream, and gray. The waters around several islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico both contain black pearls. Oriental pearls, which are superb cream-colored pearls, are well-known to come from Sri Lanka and the Persian Gulf. The waters around the Indonesian island of Celebes, the Gulf of California, and the Pacific coast of Mexico are additional locations for natural seawater pearls. Freshwater mussels that produce pearls can be found in Bavaria, Germany, along the Mississippi River and in forested streams.
Also popular are beautiful cultured pearls
Japanese cultivated pearls are highly regarded. Additionally, everyone who is familiar with jewelry has heard of Mikimoto pearls, which were named after Kokichi Mikimoto, who founded the business. In Japanese waters, huge oyster beds support the growth of cultured pearls. In the fleshy region of 2- to 3-year-old oysters, a “irritant is injected, such as a tiny chunk of mother-of-pearl. The oysters are then nurtured for 7 to 9 years in mesh bags submerged in water before being picked to extract their pearls. The equatorial islands of the Pacific and Australia both have farmed pearl industry in addition to Japan.
Famous pearls
According to estimates, the largest pearl in the world is roughly 3 inches long, 2 inches wide, and weighs around 1/3 of a pound (.13 kg). It was given as a present by Shah Jahan of India to Mumtaz, his favorite wife, in whose honor he had built the Taj Mahal. It was known as the Pearl of Asia.
Many experts believe La Peregrina (the Wanderer) to be the most stunning pearl. In the 1500s, a slave was supposed to have discovered it in Panama and given it over in exchange for his freedom. The area’s colonial ruler gave the pearl to King Philip II of Spain in 1570. This white pearl measures 1 1/2 inches in length and is pear-shaped. It hangs on a platinum setting that is set with diamonds. Mary I of England received the pearl before it was given to Prince Louis Napoleon of France. The British Marquis of Abercorn bought it from him, and his family held it until 1969, when they put it up for auction at Sotheby’s. Finally, the item was purchased for Elizabeth Taylor by actor Richard Burton.
Pearl lore
In South Asian tradition, pearls were created when dewdrops from heaven dropped into the ocean. When the moon was full, they were captured by shellfish as the sun was just rising. Indian warriors used pearls to decorate their swords to represent the tears and sadness that a blade conveys.
Up to the 17th century, pearls were also commonly utilized as medicine throughout Europe. It was thought to be a treatment for various illnesses, including insanity, by the Arabs and Persians. As early as 2000 B.C., pearls were also utilized as medicine in China, where they were symbolic of riches, power, and longevity. Low-grade pearls are still crushed up and used as medicine in Asia today.
Another June birthstone: the moonstone
The moonstone is the second birthstone for June. Moonstones are thought to have bluish-white specks inside of them that gave them their name. As a result, when held up to the light, they emit a silvery dance of color that closely resembles moonlight. Additionally, as the stone oscillates, bright silvery rays travel around like moonbeams dancing across water.
The feldspar family of minerals, a significant class of silicate minerals frequently produced in rocks, includes moonstone. The crust of the Earth is made up of feldspar to a degree. In addition to being present in numerous igneous and metamorphic rocks, this mineral makes up a sizable portion of soils and marine clays.
Gem variants of feldspar including moonstone, labradorite, amazonite, and sunstone are created under uncommon geological circumstances. They appear as huge, spotless mineral grains and are present in deep crustal rocks and pegmatites, which are igneous rocks with coarse grains. Aluminosilicatesminerals with aluminum, silicon, and oxygenthat are combined with sodium and potassium are what make up feldspars of gem quality. Moonstones from Sri Lanka are the greatest. Additionally, they can be found in India, Madagascar, Myanmar (Burma), and the Alps.
Moonstone lore
It was believed until the 16th century that the moonstone’s appearance changed according to the moon’s phases, according to the ancient Roman naturalist Pliny. The moon goddess Diana’s likeness was supposedly contained within the stone, according to ancient Romans. People who wore moonstones were said to experience victory, good health, and knowledge.
The moonstone is frequently exhibited on a yellow fabric in India since the color yellow is revered as a sacred one. The spirit that resides inside the stone is thought to be responsible for the stone’s luck-bringing properties.
Or select alexandrite as your June birthstone
The alexandrite is the third birthstone for June. Alexandrite has a charming, chameleon-like temperament. It has a lovely green hue in the daylight, occasionally with a bluish or brownish tint. The stone, however, changes color to a reddish-violet or violet under artificial lighting.
The mineral beryllium aluminum oxide, also known as alexandrite, is a member of the chrysoberyl family and comprises the elements beryllium, aluminum, and oxygen (BeAl2O4). The only minerals harder than it are corundum and diamonds (sapphires and rubies). The presence of chromium in alexandrite is what gives the stone its unique hues. Chrysoberyl is found to crystallize in pegmatites, which are beryllium-rich, very coarse-grained igneous rocks that formed from magma. They can also be found in alluvial deposits, which are pegmatites that have weathered and include gemstones, and are transported by rivers and streams.
Alexandrite is rare and expensive
Because it is a rare stone, alexandrite is quite pricey. Today, the majority of alexandrite comes from Sri Lanka, but it has also been discovered in Brazil, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Myanmar (Burma). A synthetic alexandrite that resembles a reddish-purple amethyst with a hint of green has been created in the meantime. Natural and artificial illumination do not cause the artificial stones’ colors to shift. Additionally, the artificial stones have only had sporadic market success in the US.
History of June birthstone alexandrite
Prince Alexander of Russia, who succeeded Czar Alexander II in 1855, is honored by the epithet “Alexandrite.” In an emerald mine in the Ural Mountains of Russia, alexandrite was discovered in 1839 on the prince’s birthday.
Because of how recently this stone was found, there hasn’t been much time for myth and superstition to develop. The stone was especially well-liked in Russia since it reflected the country’s colors, green and red, and was thought to bring luck.
Why is the pearl June’s birthstone?
According to astrology, the pearl is the birthstone for June. Additionally, they claim that the stone is in harmony with the Gemini zodiac sign. People have long held the notion that pearls offer serenity, love, luck, and knowledge.
Their white color is linked to purity and brightness. The birthstone pearl is hence symbolic of purity and sincerity. It is believed that wearing it as your birthstone can bring love and luck to new life starts like marriage, home moves, and infants.
What stone is more suitable for Gemini?
Pearls are the lucky birthstone for Gemini, the third sign of the zodiac. The color of pearl is unique, and it has great qualities that are strong and cold. The pearl’s natural qualities enable Gemini inhabitants to take advantage of Mercury’s abilities.