Superstitions of German-Russians, List of

Last Update 31 Oct  2002

Stories of Supernatural and Witchcraft told by German-Russians, their Ancestors and their Descendants continued....

Superstitions Connected To Birthstone and Other Precious Gems and Stones

Birthstones, Flowers and Character Described of the Child Born In The Month of:

January:  garnet , snowdrop = constancy

February: amethyst, primrose = sincerity and typifies humility

March: bloodstone, violet = courage

April: diamond, daisy = purity and invulnerable faith

May: emerald, hawthorn = hope

June:  moonstone or agate, while rose or honeysuckle = health

July:  ruby, lily = passion

August:  sardonyx, poppy = conjugal happiness and sincerity to happiness

September:  sapphire, convolvulus = repentance

October:  opal  or amber,  [no flower mentioned] = loveablness

November:  topaz, chrysanthemum = cheerfulness

December:  turquoise, holly = unselfishness

Gems and Stones as Talismans

AMBER prevented diseases, rheumatism and weakness of the eyes and must be worn at the neck 

AGATE was used for a variety of things

• Place a agate on a sleeping  person's  left breast and when they wake they can only speak the truth
• Prevented you from snakes biting you
• Makes the wearer calm and eloquent

BLOODSTONE was carried to prevent miscarriages.

BRASS was worn to ward off evil spirits

CHALCEDONY  when worn gives the bearer "good luck" in love, freedom from melancholy and increases a woman's milk  if the stone is chalky white

CHRYSOLITE  when worn prevents insanity and if placed in the mane of a horse, donkey or ass, it prevents the owner from being a fool

CHRYSOPRASE bring happiness to the wearer

CORAL protected the bearer from the evil eye; if red coral changes color while the bearer is wearing it,  it foretells the bearer is ill

CRYSTAL is worn to cure extreme fatigue

DIAMONDS endows the bearer good fortune and wards of any witchcraft directed toward the bearer

IVORY is to protection against nightmares, jealousy and evil eye

IRON is worn to drive away the demons

JADE is worn to gain good health and a long life

JASPER is to prevent dysentery, nightmares and hallucinations

LAPIS is to cure the blues

LOADSTONE can test faithfulness; helps a person going through bad labour during the birth of a child

RUBY worn by a person will prevent from being poisoned or sadness; if the ruby becomes cloudy it is foretelling danger

SAPPHIRE prevents disease, injury and poison; bring the bearer good health

TOPAZ is worn to gain wealth, beauty and at the same time prevents lust and greed

TURQUOISE will change color depending upon the health of it's bearer