Did you know the Holiday that are happening in the world can lead to new lessons when Homeschooling our children. march 13 National Jewel Day #NationalJewelDay. Children can study different gems or how gems are formed. Or the Jewelry business as a occupation for Career Day. For a Field Trip our children can visit a Jewely Store and talk to the employes and look at gems up close. Or visit a local Musuem that has gems on display.
For a art class visit a Craft Store and pick up supplies to make bracelets or necklaces and yes, Friendship Bracelets count. Then for a Homeschool Cooking Class create cookies in the shapes of gems. Art Class have the student draw there dream jewelry and write a illustration of what they drew and what gems they would use.
National Jewel Day on March 13 recognizes precious stones, special heirlooms, and the gems of people that create the jewels. Jewelers have our hearts. Jewelry has the uncanny ability to make time stand still. In that moment, because all we can see is its beauty. There is so much love and care that goes into crafting a single piece of jewelry. On National Jewel Day, we remember to appreciate and wear our Jewely with pride.
The origins and founder of National Jewel Day are unknown but what we do know is that humans have always used jewelry as a form of adornment. In prehistoric times, people wore jewelry made from stone, bones, and shells to mark status. As humans became more skilled at working with metals, the jewelry-making became increasingly more sophisticated and decorative. As a result, the value of metals like gold began to grow over time. Did you know in the ancient world, people buried gold with the dead to serve their owners well in the afterlife.
Soon, jewels would come to signify a person’s status and rank which was especially true in Medieval Europe with its intensely hierarchical society. The rich reserved the right to wear silver, gold, and other precious gems but those belonging to lower ranks typically owned base metals like pewter and copper.
Jewelry also became flashier over the ages. Cutting techniques became more advanced during the Renaissance Age, which meant shinier stones and elaborate enamels encasing both sides of the stone. It was also during this time that people wore jewelry to signal political strength or religious affiliations. By the 19th Century, the world had grown increasingly weary with industrialization. So as a way to reclaim their souls and reject machine-led systems, jewelers of the time focused on creating beautiful, handcrafted pieces instead.
Since then, the art of jewelry making has continually pushed boundaries. which began with movements like art deco and art nouveau in the 1950s. By the 1960s, conventions would upend entirely. A radical new generation of creators redefined what we knew about jewelry. New technology and non-precious materials emerge each year.
This means we can take concepts of status traditionally associated with jewelry and throw them out the window! Today we have jewelry made from textiles, paper, and even plastic. The symbolism may have evolved, but some things remain the same. Jewelry is a personal expression and brings everyone untold joy
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL JEWEL DAY
- If you have had your eye on a beautiful piece of jewelry forever today’s the day to pamper yourself and purchase that piece of Jewely.
- Organize a gathering so you can wear a special family piece of jewelry because it doesn’t deserve to stay locked away in a jewelry box!
IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT PLATINUM
- Platinum is rarer than gold and alll the platinum mined on Earth could fit into the living room of an average house did you know that?
- Finding platinum on Earth is difficult, but the metal is abundant in moon rocks and meteorites.
- Chances are, our average dental crown will contain platinum since the non-toxic metal is popular in the medical worl
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL JEWEL DAY
- At the risk of sounding like Gollum, jewels are precious and they light up people’s lives instantly and jewels make anyone feel special and loved.
- Ask any jewel maker, and they’ll regale you with stories about all of their creations because jewelry making is an intricate labor of love.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
