Healthy Food Delivery : If You See a Star on a Barn, Here’s What It Means

If you want to see a barn star, a good way to do it is to take a road trip through rural Pennsylvania, Ohio or Southern Ontario (where I grew up). Those are the places where they first appeared in the New World, and while you can find barn stars elsewhere, this is where you find a large number of artful and historic ones. Barn stars are part of American folklore, like the practice of painting barns red, and they originate from a tradition that hearkens back to the homelands of the early settlers.

Barns are traditionally red for a practical reason. Early European settlers mixed iron oxide (rust) into their linseed oil-based paints to provide extra protection against insects and the elements, and that chemical turned the paint red. A barn star may also have a practical purpose, such as advertising the services of the barn builder, but often its meaning goes deeper and borders on the esoteric.

So what is a barn star, and why is it there? Let us explain.

Origins of the Barn Star

Barn stars are also known as hex signs, Pennsylvania stars and Schtanne (which means “star” in the Pennsylvania Dutch language). They have been mainstays in rural Pennsylvania communities since the mid to late 1700s, following the tradition of early German, Dutch and Swedish settlers who, in modern times, are collectively known as the Pennsylvania Dutch.

According to tradition, farmers would adorn their newly built barns with geometric folk art that depicted nature symbols, like the sun, moon and stars, the passage of the seasons and themes derived from numerology, astrology and other esoteric disciplines. While this practice began in Pennsylvania Dutch communities, the Glencairn Museum explains that it became popular in other parts of the country after the Civil War.

The star is the central theme in most depictions, and while originally it might have had three, four or even multiple points, it evolved over the years to having five, which is the norm today. Another modern adaptation is to make a star from wood or metal and hang it on the building rather than painting it or incorporating it into the architecture, which was the original practice.

What Does a Star on a Barn Mean?

In keeping with the traditions of the early settlers, the barn star is a symbol of fertility and good luck, like an amulet or talisman (although it could also have the more mundane purpose of advertising the services of the barn builder). Owing to the diversity of designs, it’s difficult to pinpoint a single meaning, and given the pagan background of some of the early settlers, historians suspect a nod to the occult in early examples. Historians usually distinguish the more esoteric ones by calling them hex signs.

Early barn stars were a type of folk art, and the colors carried specific meanings, according to Jaclyn Krymowski, writing in AG Daily:

Black: Protection by the binding or mixing of elements or curses
White: Purity and energy
Yellow: Health and godliness
Blue: Spirituality and peace
Brown: Earth and strength
Green: Fertility, growth and success
Orange: Prosperity
Red: Emotions, passion and creativity
Violet: Sacredness

Barn stars made of wood or metal and then hung on the front of the barn usually don’t carry as much symbolism as the original Pennsylvania stars, but still, they are usually intended to act as talismans to invite good luck and ask for protection. The same goes for stars painted in a single color above the door or on the gable. The color can invoke a specific request or benefit, as noted above.

Are Barn Stars Political?

No. The fact that they became popular right after the Civil War suggests an allegiance to one of the opposing sides, but according to Kelly Cleaver, writing for Bucks County Estate Traders, they were—and still are—more of a status symbol. “Barn stars came to represent farmers’ pride in their work and lifestyle, a testament to their dedication to the land,” says Cleaver.

What Does a Star on a House Mean?

If you see a star on a house, it could be purely decorative, or it could carry a meaning similar to that of a barn star—namely, a wish for good luck and protection, and a tribute to cultural traditions. You may also see stars on the home of a family with one or more members serving in the military. A blue star honors a family member actively serving, while a gold star memorializes one who has fallen in the course of duty.