The Meaning Behind “Barn Stars”The Meaning Behind “Barn Stars”
The barn stars that adorn many rural outbuildings are more than just pretty decorations. German-American farmers put them there because they think it will help their crops and their business. There is a special meaning behind the hue of each star. Protecting the farmer, his family, and his crops is symbolized by the color blue or black, whereas the color green indicates fertile soil and healthy crop development. Friendship is represented by the color brown.
These stars first became popular in the 1830s among the Pennsylvania Dutch, a society famed for their austere way of life. Barn stars and hex signs, however, are two distinct yet related sets of symbols.
Patrick Donmoyer of Kutztown University explains that farmers didn’t always view barn stars as signs of the supernatural but rather as an integral part of their everyday lives. An artist in the 1920s mistook quilt squares and barn stars for hex signs. In the 1950s, the Pennsylvania Dutch had become a popular tourist destination thanks to their efforts to maintain their culture and customs.
The Pennsylvania Dutch use barn stars not just as ornamental nods to their past but also as protective symbols.
