On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me...

The Twelve days of Christmas is an all-time seasonal sung favourite and heard often as one of December's best loved classics. 

Everybody knows that it ends with a partridge in a pear tree, but the lead up includes no less than twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming and six geese a laying.

The song continues with five golden rings and continues with four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and then the partridge in a pear tree,
always sung with aplomb and triumph!


But what about the twelve jewels of Christmas? The ultimate prize at this time of year - just like that traditional partridge (!) is often an engagement ring 
under the Christmas tree but while a diamond is the most fantastic and unmissable gift and commitment, there are other stones and jewels that 
are also just perfect to be wrapped up as a beautiful seasonal gift.  

When it comes to birthstones there are actually more than 12 jewels of Christmas. They can be brought into a Claddagh ring as the centrepiece; gifted as earrings or put into a pendant to shine brightly.


What is your birthstone? What is its significance and what way would you like to wear it? Birthstones are worn for their allure and symbolic meaning and the great thing about them is that there is one for everybody!

Those born in January are lucky to have the beautiful garnet as their special birthstone. Commonly red, they also come in a range of extraordinary and beautiful colors ranging from vibrant green to purple, yellow and orange. There are even garnets that can change color from puple to blue depending on the lighting. It's considered to be a stone that represents self empowerment and higher thinking and brings strength and safety.


In February, amethyst is the special stone. Steeped in ancient mysticism, it's a powerful gem with a beautiful lavender or violet purple color and originates 
from the Greek 'amethystos' which means 'without intoxication'. It's often thought to bring a clear mind and is a stone of friendship and love. Saint Valentine was even thought to wear one!

For March, the special birthstone is aquamarine. A tender blue-green gemstone, its energy is said to have magical and calming properties. Bloodstone is another precious gem associated with people whose birthdays are in March. Those with April birthdays are lucky as their stone is a diamond - one of the hardest minerals we know of, diamonds are many peoples favorite gemstone and can range in price depending on how much you want to invest.

May is the beautiful green emerald which is often associated with Ireland. This life affirming stone is said to open up the heart, calm the emotions and provide inspiration, wisdom, balance and patience. It is said to help the wearer to give unconditional love by promoting friendship, peace, harmony and domestic bliss!


Alexandrite represents the month of June. This one is a particularly rare gemstone, symbolizing good luck and fortune and is known for its unique ability to change color and embody the spirit of balance and change and bring emotional calm.

In the summer months, July is ruby and August is peridot. The beautiful red ruby is said to be neither too dark nor too light, of it is to be considered the finest quality. It's said to represent passion, love and strength. The peridot is known as the stone of compassion and is said to bring good health, restful sleep and peace and balance emotions and the mind. This bright green stone is said to help with creativity and bring good cheer!

September is the month of the sapphire. The piercing blue is a favorite for centuries and is seen as a symbol of the heavens, a guardian of innocence, a promoter of good health and a bestower of truth.

October brings the tourmaline and November is the topaz. The tourmaline is said to be a stone of reconciliation, fostering compassion and radiating the 
energy that attracts money, healing and friendship. It's often used for grounding purposes and to reaffirm roots to the Earth. November's topaz is also given as a celebration of the 4th and 19th anniversaries of marriage. A symbol of love and affection, it was said to be an aid to sweetness of disposition.

December is the month of the blue topaz. Known as the 'stone of clarity' it is thought to help channel inner wisdom and bring about successful opportunities and even bring good fortune to wearers.

Why not enjoy one of the 12 jewels of Christmas this year!