Have you ever wondered what a barn star is? You may have seen them as they have been around for several years. They are the 5 pointed stars that people put on the front of their homes. They have an interesting history but now they have a totally different meaning.

First, let’s get the rumors out of the way. They are NOT a sign that the residents are “swingers” looking for other “swingers” to join them.  Back in 2007 someone started a thread on stripersonline.com. In it they clearly state “my wife and I decided to start a rumor – the star means you are a swinger.” The star is not the only symbol that alleged swingers use. There are supposedly others including pink flamingos or pineapple décor. All of these should be taken with a grain of salt though. Maybe your neighbour just likes flamingos or pineapple lawn decor.

The barn start actually comes from “horse and buggy days” where people of German and Dutch origins put them on their barns. To them it was a builder’s sign that went up when the construction was complete. It was a symbol of Barn Builders and was believed to bring good fortune to the farmers. It even became a hex symbol to ward off evil in some cultures.

Some say the barn star actually came from Chinese immigrants even earlier than that. It was the good luck star to them. Whatever the true history of it is, they have their own meaning today.

If you see a brown star which is the most popular from what I have seen, it stands for strength and friendship. A white star symbolizes purity and energy. Green stars are hope for growth and fertility, while violet stars are considered holy. If the star is either blue or black, it is protection for the farm (or home). A yellow star as you can guess represents love for the sun and mankind.

Now that you know what it actually means, you can stop whispering about that swinger house down the street. They have significant history behind them and can bring a little colour to the front of your home. If you see one in the store it will likely be brown or rust coloured, but know that you understand the meanings behind the colours you can paint it and make your own statement as well.

Oh, and just for the record, putting a barn star on the front of your home will not likely affect your curb appeal. If you want to discuss how it may affect your home, please contact Ryan Ligeza.