Quick Reference: Birth Flowers by Month January: Carnation (primary), Snowdrop (secondary) February: Violet, Primrose March: Daffodil, Jonquil April: Daisy, Sweet Pea May: Lily of the Valley, Hawthorn June: Rose, Honeysuckle July: Larkspur, Water Lily August: Gladiolus, Poppy September: Aster, Morning Glory October: Marigold, Cosmos November: Chrysanthemum, Peony December: Narcissus (Paperwhite), Holly If you want a

Quick Reference Dandelions: Close when rain is near; open in dry weather. Scarlet Pimpernel: The “poor man’s weather glass.” Folds when humidity hits about 80%. Pine cones: Open scales in dry air; closed in damp. Earthstar fungus: Open in rain; curls closed as skies clear. Seaweed: Plump and damp before muggy weather; shriveled in dry.

Friday the 13th is considered to bring bad luck in some Western cultures, similar to beliefs that bad luck comes from walking under a ladder, seeing a black cat crossing your path, or breaking a mirror. But how did this superstition begin, why the number 13, and when is the next Friday the 13th? We explain.

Quick Reference: January Birthstone Birthstone: Garnet (most often deep red; also green, orange, pink, and rare color-change varieties) Symbolism: Fidelity, friendship, protection, good karma, healing Mohs hardness: 6.5 to 7.5 (durable enough for daily wear) Main varieties: Almandine, pyrope, rhodolite, tsavorite, demantoid, spessartine, hessonite Zodiac match: Capricorn (Dec 22 to Jan 19), Aquarius (Jan 20

Native American and Indigenous Peoples honor the winter season by slowing down, visiting the mountains, and otherwise recognizing the interconnectedness of humanity, nature, and the stars above. The colder months are a time to become more conscious and to heal, individually and collectively, as a planet. “We take care of Mother Earth, she will take

Quick Reference The method: The Onion Calendar, a German folk tradition for predicting monthly moisture. When to do it: Between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. What you need: A round well-formed onion, a teaspoon of salt per cup, a knife. How to read: Wetter salt = wetter month; dry salt =

‘Tis the season for long white beards, reddened noses, pudgy bellies, and red pointed caps. Here come the Christmas gnomes! But where do these quirky characters come from, how have they become associated with Christmas, and what is our fascination with their distinctive look and charm? Is there a connection with garden gnomes? We explain.

Quick Reference December birthstones: turquoise (traditional), tanzanite, and blue zircon Meanings: turquoise for protection, tanzanite for transformation, zircon for wisdom Zodiac signs: Sagittarius (Nov 22 to Dec 21) and Capricorn (Dec 22 to Jan 19) 11th-anniversary stone: turquoise Fun fact: December is one of only three months with a triple-stone birth list, alongside June and

Quick Reference: November Birthstones Primary stone: Topaz, especially the golden Imperial Topaz Modern alternate: Citrine, added to the November list in 1952 Traditional meaning: Topaz for friendship and strength; citrine for prosperity and clear thinking Color family: Warm golds and lemon yellows, with topaz also turning up in blue, pink, and colorless Hardness: Topaz scores

11:11 at a Glance The tradition: Make a wish when the clock reads 11:11 In numerology: 1111 is read as an angel number signaling new beginnings On the calendar: November 11 (11/11) is the only date written with four identical digits In history: 11/11 marks the World War I armistice of 1918, now Veterans Day