If you enjoy country life or just like taking walks away from busy cities, you may have noticed barn stars. These stars are often found above barn doors, either painted on or made of metal, and they serve as interesting decorations with a rich history.
But what do barn stars really mean? Where do they come from? If you’ve ever wondered about this, you’re in the right place. This article will explain a bit about barn stars and might even teach you something new.
The history of barn stars goes back over a hundred years, although there is some debate about their original purpose. Some sources say that these stars were first used to show who built the barn, acting as a sign to let everyone know who was responsible for constructing it.
According to The Copper Star, barn stars became popular after the American Civil War and can be traced back to at least the 1820s in Pennsylvania. Nowadays, people often associate barn stars with good luck and prosperity. Interestingly, the different colors of the stars each have their own special meanings too!
That’s right! Each color of barn stars has its own meaning. German-American farmers, for instance, placed these stars at the top of barns to keep away evil spirits and to help ensure a good harvest.
Barn stars are a tradition that has been passed down over the years and are believed to come from the Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish communities.
Interestingly, the different colors of stars represent different ideas. For example, brown stars symbolize friendship and strength, while white stars stand for purity and energy. A violet star represents holiness, and blue or black stars are meant to protect the farm.
Green stars symbolize growth and fertility for the crops, while bright yellow stars express love for both people and the sun.
Then there are “hex stars,” which are different from barn stars and showed up more than a century later.
You may have seen hex stars from time to time. They first appeared in the 1950s. According to the Kutztown Folk Festival, the change from barn stars to hex stars started with a man named Milton Hill in 1952.
Later, in the late 1950s, a Pennsylvania Dutch folk painter named Johnny Ott added superstitious meanings to his designs. He found that these signs sold much better with added meanings. The trend quickly spread, and these designs became known as “hex signs.”
I Was the Only One Who Went to My Grandma’s Birthday Brunch — After Seeing Her Tears, I Taught My Family a Lesson
My story begins badly but ends on a positive note. It’s about my Gran-Gran, the sweetest lady alive, who raised me and my brothers during our parents’ divorce. Ahead of her 83rd birthday, she surprised us by organizing a brunch at her place, despite her deteriorating health, making her own bread and pastries, and sending handwritten invites.
On her birthday, I arrived 10 minutes late to find her cleaning up alone. She admitted, “Sany, you aren’t too late, no one bothered showing up on my birthday. But it’s okay, sweetheart. I know everyone is busy.” My heart broke. Everyone had promised to be there, but none showed up. I hugged her and decided to take action.v
I lied to my family, saying Gran-Gran had fallen and was in the hospital, convincing them to send money for hospital bills. I collected a significant amount and used it to book a trip for Gran-Gran and me to a beach resort she’d always wanted to visit. We spent a week enjoying the sun, the sea, and each other’s company. I shared the trip images on social media, tagging all our family members.
When we returned, Gran-Gran was glowing. “Thank you for this, darling. It’s been the best week of my life,” she said. From that day on, my family never missed another event. They showed up for every birthday, holiday, and Sunday dinner. Every time I saw Gran-Gran’s happy face, I knew it had all been worth it. Do you think I overreacted and took things too far?
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