January's Birthstone and Flowers: Garnet, Carnations and Snow Drops

Garnet, the fiery stone associated with the heart, has been prized throughout history by many including ancient Egyptians, Romans and the English.  In fact, the word garnet means "dark red" in Middle English.  Garnet symbolizes constancy, faith, loyalty and strength and has been given as a symbol of affection for centuries.  In Latin, granatum means pomegranate seed.  

Garnet gained its strongest following in Victorian England, and was used frequently in elaborate settings.  Garnet remains popular today as a birthstone or symbol of love and also is used to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of marriage.  It's usually seen in red, but come in many colours, making it a very versatile stone, especially for rings and pendants.

"Carnations are filled with symbolism.  As well as being the flower for the month of January, it's the flower to celebrate first anniversaries, and the national flower for Monaco, Slovenia and Spain.  In general, carnations symbolize admiration and affection.  Pink carnations symbolize gratitude and a mother's love, red ones love and passion, and white ones innocence and sweet love."  Visit The Floral Prescription to read the entire blog from which this excerpt is taken.

Snowdrops are also a flower for January.  Since snowdrops are the first flower to arrive, often pushing up through snow, they represent new beginnings, hope and rebirth, making them a perfect flower for the beginning of a new year.  This tiny and delicate flower should not be underestimated as it blooms against many odds.  Because of this, snowdrops are often given to someone struggling to overcome a challenge.

Although pearls aren't officially a birthstone of January, I thought they paired so well with snowdrops that I couldn't resist showcasing them alongside these sweetly fragranced little flowers.