Amethyst = February
Were you born in February? Your birthstone is amethyst, a stone that ranges in color from pale mauve to deep violet, symbolizing wisdom and strength, and is a symbol of sobriety.
Amethyst, a superb stone from the quartz family, owes its name to the Greek amethystos, which translates as "protecting against drunkenness." A stone of sobriety, it helps one maintain a sense of reality, which is why church tradition requires the bishop to wear amethyst on his finger. He must set aside his ego to govern God's people, guarding against drunkenness and remaining firmly anchored in the realities of this world. In the Middle Ages, amethyst was believed to encourage celibacy and be a symbol of piety. We can therefore understand the importance of this stone for the church!
The legend of the origin of amethyst also comes from Greek myths. It is said that Bacchus, the god of drunkenness, was angered by a mere mortal. Drunk, he swore revenge on the first person who came along, creating hungry tigers to carry out his wish. A beautiful young girl named Amethyst wandered along, praying and paying homage to the goddess Diana. Wanting to protect the young girl, the goddess transformed her into pure rock crystal to avoid the bites of the hungry tigers. Bacchus was so upset that he poured his cup of wine over the beautiful statue, which dyed the quartz to give it the purple color we know today.
The Smithsonian Institution in the United States exhibits a cut purple amethyst weighing 1,362 carats. The British Museum also has a 343-carat stone. The largest amethyst crystals weigh over 50 kilos!
