It seems like the United States has a designated day to celebrate everything: independence, presidents, veterans, the earth and even work. But did you know that there is a national pot day? Well, not exactly — but close. On April 20 every year marijuana smokers recognize what they consider to be a national day in honor of the sacred weed. It is no coincidence that April 20 works out to be 4/20, which is a common code word for marijuana among users.
The phrase 420 dates back to the early 70s, and there is a great deal of speculation about where it actually comes from. One fairly believable story is that came from a group of pot smokers in California who met up after school at 4:20 p.m. to search for a marijuana stash hidden in the forest.
But whatever the term’s origins, it has spread throughout the United States, and indeed throughout most of the world, and has become a near universal code for marijuana, and people who are marijuana friendly. In California, for example, the newspaper and online classifieds are full of ads indicating that the poster is “420 friendly.” This is especially common for ads seeking a roommate or to rent an apartment, though it can be found in many types of ads, including some job advertisements.
If you missed the national “smokers” celebration on 4/20 this year, don’t fret. Most dedicated pot enthusiasts consider 4/20 to be the beginning of a celebratory week. And let’s face it, some consider every week to be 420 week.
In honor of the April 20 celebration this year, organizations such as NORML (the national Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) held rallies and festivals, and concluded with a “personal freedom” conference in San Francisco. NORML members say that April 20 is marijuana’s equivalent to “Miller Time:” a specially designated time to get stoned.
But NORML also used this April 20 to make a political point. The organization spent hundreds of thousands of dollars running ads in New York City requesting that Mayor Michael Bloomberg insist that marijuana smokers to be fined, but not arrested if caught smoking pot in public.
Mayor Bloomberg himself admitted to a New York Magazine reporter that he had used marijuana and “enjoyed it.” The NORML ads reminded the mayor of his admission, and requested that he take immediate action to decriminalize the public use of marijuana. Similar pro-marijuana political Ads also ran in California.
The basic idea behind birthstones is that there is a specific gemstone for every month or zodiac sign. This list of birthstones and their corresponding meanings and significance will help you determine the stone to use in your jewelry. Birthstone jewelries also make excellent birthday presents especially when the receiver is aware of the stone’s meaning.
January: Garnet. Probably because of its famous dark red color, garnet is associated with the blood. It is interesting to learn however that garnet is also available in all colors except blue. Garnet can act as an illuminant and is able to protect one from nightmares. It is also associated with luck and self confidence and can boost one’s physical, mental and emotional health.
February: Amethyst. Since it comes in varying shades of purple, amethyst is almost always present in the royal crown jewels of ancient Greece and Egypt and even in modern day Britain. Amethyst is associated with sobriety, protection and peace, and is believed to release tension and stress.
March: Aquamarine. The wearers of this stone are believed to have increased stamina. It also symbolizes love, hope and health. Because of its sea blue color, it is associated with the protection of seafarers.
April: Diamond. By tradition, diamond symbolizes undying love, evident in its popularity of use in engagement rings.
May: Emerald. Emerald symbolizes friendship but according to legends, it has more practical uses. It is believed to cure a variety of illnesses and gives its wearer the ability of foretelling the future.
June: Pearl. This stone symbolizes modesty and chastity and is said to contribute to a happy marriage. Many people believe that the pearl also has antibiotic properties.
July: Ruby. With its enchantingly red color, ruby symbolizes love. It is also said to protect its wearers and owners from harm and enables them to live in peace with their neighbors.
August: Peridot. Peridot is associated with friendship and protection in the dark. It is believed that ancient medicine men created drinking cups out of peridot in order to amplify the effect of medicinal drugs.
September: Sapphire. Sapphire is associated with faithfulness and innocence and the ability to see into the future. When the gem’s brilliance grows faint, it is a sign of unfaithfulness and evildoing.
October: Opal. An opal is believed to grant its owner the fulfillment of his desires. It is also associated with protection, hope, purity and innocence. It is also believed to enable its wearer to become invisible in times of emergency.
November: Topaz. A symbol of self confidence, topaz is surrounded by folklore telling of its ability to heal a wide range of ailments. It also changes color in the presence of poison and is widely used when poison rings were still popular.
December: Turquoise. Captivating in its sky blue color, turquoise is believed to grant its owner luck, protection and happiness.
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