50+ Lifestyles

The Carnation and the Garnet – Symbols of January

By Eloise Graham 

The flower of the month is the carnation.
Carnations can be found in a wide range of colors, and while in general they express love, fascination and distinction, virtually every color carries a unique and rich association. White carnations suggest pure love and good luck; light red symbolizes admiration, while dark red represents deep love and affection. Purple carnations imply capriciousness, and pink carnations carry the greatest significance, beginning with the belief that they first appeared on earth from the Virgin Mary’s tears – making them the symbol of a mother’s undying love.

The gem for January is garnet. The common color for garnet is red like the pomegranate. The name is derived from the Latin word Granatum, the pomegranate. Garnet is found the world over and comes in a variety of colors and chemical formulas. Legends and folklore place garnet among the most ancient of talismans. Not only was it prized as an ornamental jewel, but also its strong curative powers and protective energies made it invaluable.

Some January Dates in History

1776 – January 10: Common Sense, a fifty page pamphlet by Thomas Paine, was published. It sold over 500,000 copies in America and Europe. It influenced the authors of the Declaration of Independence.

1789 – January 8: President George Washington gave the first State of the Union address.

1854 – January 13: The accordion was invented.

1880 – January 27: Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric incandescent bulb.

1885 – January 4: The first appendectomy in the United States was performed in Davenport by Dr. William Grant.

1892 – January 1: Ellis Island opened. Over 20 million new arrivals were processed there until it closed in 1954.

1916 – January 17: The PGA (Professional Golf Association) was formed

1952 – January 14: The Today Show premiered on NBC.

1959 – January 3: Alaska became the 49th state to enter the Union.

1974 – January 2: The maximum US speed limit was reduced to 55 mph

1984 – January 10: Steve Jobs introduced the original Apple Macintosh.