The Garnet is associated with fire, passion and blood. The associations of this extremely popular gemstone are numerous:
it is the birthstone of January,
is associated with astrological signs of both Aquarius and Leo,
and is also recommended gift for both 2nd and 6th wedding anniversaries.
Garnet is the name of a family of minerals, which similar crystal structure and related chemical composition. They grew in popularity in the late 18thC and are still widely used today, in either cut or polished cabochon form. Garnets are popularly believed to be red stones, but this is not always the case. Not only are garnets found in a whole variety of red hues, but also in green (though these are rarer).