Birth Month

February

February 1 – February 28/29 · Air (Aquarius period); Water (Pisces period from Feb 19) · Saturn/Uranus (Aquarius), Jupiter/Neptune (Pisces from Feb 19)

Traditional BirthstoneAmethyst (in ancient Greek, Roman, Hebrew, and Christian traditions); also Hyacinth (in some 15th–19th century European lists)

Modern BirthstoneAmethyst

ElementAir (Aquarius period); Water (Pisces period from Feb 19)

Ruling PlanetSaturn/Uranus (Aquarius), Jupiter/Neptune (Pisces from Feb 19)

Associated crystals

AmethystOpen in the Dictionary AquamarineOpen in the Dictionary BloodstoneOpen in the Dictionary JasperOpen in the Dictionary TurquoiseOpen in the Dictionary

Associated herbs

PeppermintOpen in the Dictionary LavenderOpen in the Dictionary ChamomileOpen in the Dictionary VioletOpen in the Dictionary PrimroseOpen in the Dictionary

Source Tradition

Amethyst has been February's birthstone since at least the Renaissance, appearing in Aaron's breastplate as 'achlamah' (Exodus 28:19). Ancient Greeks believed amethyst prevented intoxication—its name means 'not drunken.' The poet Bacchius in his 3rd century BCE Peri Lithon praised amethyst's sobering quality. In some 15th–19th century European lists, hyacinth (yellow zircon) appeared as February's stone. The 1912 Jewelers of America list confirmed amethyst, where it has remained unchanged.

Exodus 28:19; Bacchius of Tanagra, Peri Lithon, 3rd century BCE; 15th–19th century European traditional lists; Jewelers of America, 1912Explore sourcing notes in the Appendix