🌳 Ep. 236: Birthstones by Month Memory Mnemonic
👋 Intro
Hello and welcome to this episode of the podcast, "The Mnemonic Memory", where we add a single mnemonic leaf to our Tree of Knowledge.
I’m Jans, your Mnemonic Man, and today's episode will be on a subject which I find always pops up in trivia, and that is birthstones by month or by the Western Zodiac. Fortunately enough, they do correlate, so if you know your star signs you should be able to work out the associated gemstone. If you can’t remember those astrological signs, go back to episode 153 on the Western Zodiac, where the mnemonic is “a rat riding an ox trades a horse for a sheep and calls it mr dog pig”
Just another thing to point out before I get into the podcast, and that is there are several months that have multiple birthstones, so, for the mnemonic I have chosen the most prominent one, which is generally first on the list, and that is according to the U.S. 2019 list in Wikipedia on Birthstones.
Birthstones are gemstones traditionally associated with each month of the year. The modern birthstone tradition developed from a mixture of biblical references, ancient beliefs, and later European and American customs.
It is believed that the concept originated from the biblical breastplate of Aaron, which featured twelve gemstones representing the twelve tribes of Israel. First-century historian Josephus and later scholars linked these twelve stones to the twelve months of the year, along with the astrological signs. People would collect these twelve stones and wear the active month’s stone, apparently unlocking healing powers.
Commercialisation came in the late 19th century with Tiffany & Co publishing a pamphlet of Gregorian calendar birthstone poems. By 1912, the American National Association of Jewellers officially standardised the modern birthstone list to create consistency for the jewellery industry.
Since then, modifications have been made to the list but on a wider scale it is also worth noting there are many different variations or adaptations of the birthstone list around the world, some of which include India, Japan, Tibet, and Europe.
Today’s mnemonic will be on the birthstones by month according to the 2019 U.S. list in Wikipedia under Birthstones.
So, with that being said, we will begin with a summary from Wikipedia.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yzyIOs50l8cWXO9GQgEcpjn0479mqrqK/view?usp=sharing
📖 Wikipedia Summary
The first-century historian Josephus believed there was a connection between the twelve stones in Aaron's breastplate (signifying the Twelve Tribes of Israel, as described in the Book of Exodus), the twelve months of the year, and the twelve signs of the zodiac.[1]: 275–306 Translations and interpretations of the passage in Exodus regarding the breastplate have varied widely, with Josephus himself giving two different lists for the twelve stones.[2]: 130–131
George Frederick Kunz argues that Josephus saw the breastplate of the Second Temple, not the one described in Exodus. St. Jerome, referencing Josephus, said the Foundation Stones of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19–20) would be appropriate for Christians.[3]: 294
In the eighth and ninth centuries, religious treatises associating a particular stone with an apostle were written so that "their name would be inscribed on the Foundation Stones, and his virtue."[3]: 299
Practice became to keep twelve stones and wear one a month.[3]: 298 The custom of wearing a single birthstone is only a few centuries old, though modern authorities differ on dates. Kunz places the custom in eighteenth-century Poland, while the Gemmological Institute of America starts it in Germany in the 1560s.[3]: 293
Modern lists of birthstones have little to do with either the breastplate or the Foundation Stones of Christianity. Tastes, customs, and confusing translations have distanced them from their historical origins,[4][3]: 310 with one author calling the 1912 Kansas list (see below) "nothing but a piece of unfounded salesmanship."[2]: 132
Some poems match each month of the Gregorian calendar with a birthstone. These are traditional stones of English-speaking societies. Tiffany & Co. published these poems "of unknown author" for the first time in a pamphlet in 1870.[5]
Modern birthstones
In August 1912, to standardize birthstones, the (American) National Association of Jewellers (now called Jewellers) met in Kansas City and officially adopted a list.[1]: 317
Extracted from: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthstone]
🧠 Memory Mnemonic
Birthstones by Month Memory Mnemonic – GAADE PRePS Opal To Trade
(Picture your girlfriend Gaade who is prepping one of her many opals to trade for another gemstone.)
1. Garnet – January
2. Amethyst – February
3. Aquamarine, Bloodstone – March
4. Diamond – April
5. Emerald – May
6. Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite - June
7. Ruby – July
8. Peridot, Spinel, Sardonyx – August
9. Sapphire – September
10. Opal, Tourmaline – October
11. Topaz, Citrine – November
12. Turquoise, Zircon, Tanzanite – December
NB: According to the U.S. list in 2019 (Wikipedia)
🔎 Five Fun Facts
And today there will be no standard 5 fun facts, rather a brief description of each gemstone, which I thought would be more pertinent.
January – Garnet is usually deep red, and symbolises protection, friendship and lasting commitment.
February – Amethyst is a purple quartz associated with peace, clarity and calmness.
March – Aquamarine is blue or blue-green, and represents courage, serenity and the sea.
April – Diamond is the hardest natural gemstone, and symbolises strength, purity and everlasting love.
May – Emerald is a Brilliant green and represents rebirth, growth and good fortune.
June – Pearl, Alexandrite and Moonstone: Pearls symbolise purity and wisdom; alexandrite is famous for changing colour, and moonstone has a distinctive glowing appearance.
July – Ruby is a vivid red gemstone symbolising passion, courage and vitality.
August – Peridot, Spinel and Sardonyx: Peridot is bright green and associated with happiness and prosperity; spinel comes in many colours, while sardonyx is traditionally linked with strength.
September – Sapphire is usually blue, and represents wisdom, loyalty and protection.
October – Opal and Tourmaline: Opal is famous for its shifting rainbow colours, while tourmaline occurs in a range of colours.
November – Topaz and Citrine: Topaz comes in several colours and symbolises strength and affection, while citrine represents warmth and prosperity.
December – Turquoise, Tanzanite and Zircon: Turquoise is traditionally associated with protection; blue-violet tanzanite is rare and distinctive, and zircon occurs in many colours and is known for its brilliance.
🎓 Three-Question Quiz
Q.1. Which gemstone is the birthstone for April and is renowned for being the hardest natural substance?
Q.2. Which is the gemstone for July, which has its name in a Rolling Stones song?
Q.3. Which gemstone is produced by living creatures rather than being mined from rock?
Bonus Q. Which country produces the most opals
Bonus Q. Which green gemstone has been associated with royalty for centuries?
Bonus Q. The name of which gemstone comes from the ancient Greek word adamas, meaning “unconquerable” or “invincible.”
Bonus Q. Why are crystals so honest?
🧠 Memory Mnemonic Recap
Birthstones by Month Memory Mnemonic – GAADE PRePS Opal To Trade
(Picture your girlfriend Gaade who is prepping one of her many opals to trade for another gemstone.)
1. Garnet – January
2. Amethyst – February
3. Aquamarine, Bloodstone – March
4. Diamond – April
5. Emerald – May
6. Pearl, Moonstone, Alexandrite - June
7. Ruby – July
8. Peridot, Spinel, Sardonyx – August
9. Sapphire – September
10. Opal, Tourmaline – October
11. Topaz, Citrine – November
12. Turquoise, Zircon, Tanzanite – December
🎓 Three-Question Quiz Answers
Q.1. Which gemstone is the birthstone for April and is renowned for being the hardest natural substance?
A. Diamond
Q.2. Which is the gemstone for July, which has its name in a Rolling Stones song?
A. Ruby
Q.3. Which gemstone is produced by living creatures rather than being mined from rock?
A. Pearl
Bonus Q. Which country produces the most opals
A. Australia, producing over 90%
Bonus Q. Which green gemstone has been associated with royalty for centuries?
A. Emeralds
Bonus Q. The name of which gemstone comes from the ancient Greek word adamas, meaning “unconquerable” or “invincible”
A. Diamonds
Bonus Q. Why are crystals so honest?
A. Because they are completely transparent! (That pun was a hidden gem!)
🔤 Word of the Week
rebarbative
[ree-bahr-buh-tiv]
1. causing annoyance, irritation, or aversion; repellent.
Example
The rebarbative debate over birthstones by month can make choosing the right gemstone surprisingly frustrating.
Extracted from: [https://www.dictionary.com/]
💡 Memory Tip
For our memory tip today, we will be talking about the benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil for a healthy brain.
Extra virgin olive oil is the highest quality, least processed form of olive oil, which is made by mechanically pressing fresh olives at low temperatures without heat or chemicals.
Extra Virgin Olive oil can support a healthy brain through its rich content of monounsaturated fats, vitamin E, and polyphenol antioxidants, which can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. Regular consumption of EVOO may support memory, learning, and overall cognitive function. The polyphenols may also help to protect brain cells and support healthy blood vessels.
So, think of Extra Virgin Olive Oil as premium fuel and lubrication for your brain and body. See you next week.
👉 Free Memory Mnemonics at:
https://www.themnemonictreepodcast.com
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🔗 References
https://chatgpt.com/c/6a7d0e23-affc-83ec-af75-439ea2723367
REBARBATIVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/rebarbative
https://www.gemsociety.org/article/birthstone-chart/
https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/g43402082/birthstone-facts/