Birth Month

December

December 1 – December 31 · Fire (Sagittarius period); Earth (Capricorn period from December 22) · Jupiter (Sagittarius), Saturn (Capricorn from December 22)

Traditional BirthstoneTurquoise (in ancient Persian, Native American, and Hebrew traditions); Zircon (in some 18th–19th century European lists); Lapis Lazuli (in ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian traditions); Ruby (in some Hindu traditions)

Modern BirthstoneTurquoise / Zircon / Tanzanite (tanzanite added 2002)

ElementFire (Sagittarius period); Earth (Capricorn period from December 22)

Ruling PlanetJupiter (Sagittarius), Saturn (Capricorn from December 22)

Associated crystals

TurquoiseOpen in the Dictionary ZirconOpen in the Dictionary TanzaniteOpen in the Dictionary Lapis LazuliOpen in the Dictionary Blue TopazOpen in the Dictionary

Associated herbs

CinnamonOpen in the Dictionary FrankincenseOpen in the Dictionary MyrrhOpen in the Dictionary JuniperOpen in the Dictionary SageOpen in the Dictionary

Source Tradition

December has the most complex birthstone history. Turquoise—one of humanity's oldest gems, mined in Persia (Iran) for over 5,000 years and sacred to Native American peoples of the Southwest—was the primary traditional stone. Zircon appears in 18th–19th century European lists. The AGTA and Jewelers of America added tanzanite in 2002 following its 1967 discovery near Mount Kilimanjaro by Maasai herders. Blue topaz also appears in some contemporary lists. In Exodus 28, some scholars identify 'shebo' with an onyx or agate rather than turquoise. The multiplication of December options reflects both ancient diversity and modern gemological discovery.

Jewelers of America, 1912; AGTA/Jewelers of America, 2002 update (tanzanite); ancient Persian and Native American turquoise traditions; 18th–19th century European zircon traditionExplore sourcing notes in the Appendix