Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

Do they mean something or are they just a decoration.....Sorry if this a dumb question but DH and I have been talking about this for months.

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

I actually just bought one and hung one on my fence. I bought it because I like it - but when I was looking for one on the internet I believe I read that it started with the amish in lancaster county. If you search Barn Stars I am sure you can find out more.

here is mine...




eta: Im bored tonight - so here is what I found:

Adorning many homes around Lancaster County is the rustic Barn Star. The Barn Star originated within the German farming community. These farmers would often mount a large star-shaped decoration onto their barns. Its significance varied. Some farmers considered the stars good luck, like a horseshoe hung above a doorway; while others viewed it as simply aesthetic and pleasing to the eye. Many barn stars, unique in their appearance, represented the trademark of the builder who constructed the barn.

The tradition of the barn star in America can be traced back to the 1700’s, and to at least the 1870’s in Pennsylvania. Barn stars were most popular after the Civil War.

The barn star composition has changed over the years. At first they were built directly into the barn. Later the stars were crafted from wood as a separate piece. In the last 30 years, barn stars were constructed from roofing tiles, giving them a rough finish. Recently, since the ‘90s, local craftsmen have been making them from thin steel, unfinished, so they rust.

The present-day Barn Star, now popular on homes of every size and shape, has come to mean an outward sign of good luck and good fortune!

Message edited 6/5/2007 9:51:18 PM.

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

They do mean something and even the different colors mean different things...but, I don't know what... ...sorry!

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

Awee man .....DH was right....I thought it meant you were patriotic
Thanks Jen!

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

we have one on our house that has a "ribbon" attached on the bottom that says Welcome to our home!

I didnt think it meant anything,,,I just liked it!

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

yes they mean good luck, we have a HUGE one on the front of our house in the peak.

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

I need to get one.
I like the meaning of it.....

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

I totally have been wanting to get one for months for my garage...

I highly doubt DH would "let" me put one on the front of the house...he puts up with a lot of my crafty / girly stuff but I doubt that he would like the star..but the garage should be ok.

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

I was wondering the same thing, so many houses seem to have them lately.

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

Yes, they are called Amish stars. We have this one and I've seen it on a lot of houses this year.

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Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

Here's a list of the meanings for the different colored barn stars:

Significance of the Colors
Here is a generally accepted overview of what the various colors mean pertaining to Amish and/or Pennsylvania Dutch painted barn symbols, barn stars included.


Black: Protection, also used to blend or bind elements together

Blue: Protection, peace, calmness and spirituality

Brown: Mother earth, also can mean friendship and strength

Green: Growth, fertility, success in things and ideas that grow

Orange: Abundance in career, projects and matters needing an added push

Red: Emotions, passion, charisma, lust and also creativity

Violet: Things that are sacred

White: Purity, power of the moon, allows energy to flow freely

Yellow: Health in body and mind, love of man and the sun, connection to the God

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

I have a Barn Star on the side of the house - I just love them , but they were thought to bring good luck
Here is the history of the Barn Star

Actually I have alot decorative stars around the house come to think of it!

Re: Question about the big stars that people hang on the outside of their houses....

I too have stars all over the house, I have actually had my star on my house for over 5 years,

deleted pics dont want my home on a public forum for more than a day.

Message edited 6/7/2007 9:49:56 AM.