What is with the stars?

jetskier · 07-14-2007, 07:58 PM

Hi all,

I have noticed a number of houses with red/five point stars. What do they mean?

Jetskier

Lin · 07-14-2007, 08:17 PM

we asked that same question last year of someone that had the star and they just told us it's a decorative thing. But we see them everywhere. We'd like to know if it means something else too. We figured it was like the hex symbols from years ago.

pmj · 07-14-2007, 08:53 PM

We wondered the same thing then we went to visit someone who had the star and we were told that it has similar meaning to the pineapple in colonial days..meaning a welcoming symbol. I don't know if that is the whole story or not.

Newbiesaukee · 07-14-2007, 09:47 PM

Although this may not be the final answer, barnstars, as they are known, date at least to the early nineteenth century and are often linked to the Pennsylvania Dutch community ( which was German, not Dutch). In any event, barnstars are fairly common throughout the northeast U.S.

Mickomally · 07-14-2007, 09:53 PM

As taken from wikipedia
"A barnstar (or barn star) is a decorative piece, often in the shape of a five-pointed star but occasionally in a circular "wagon wheel" style, used to adorn a barn. These are originally and most commonly seen in German and German-American farming communities. Having no structural purpose, they were mainly used for their general aesthetic appeal and were even considered lucky, akin to a horseshoe mounted over a doorway."

tis · 07-15-2007, 07:00 AM

We also noticed them popping up everywhere last year and because I was so curious I asked someone who had them who also said they were decorative and sold at a lot of gift stores now. They are quite a fad. I thought it might have been a religious thing or something. Funny, that we all thought the same thing.

cowislander · 07-15-2007, 08:00 AM

Google does it again.....

http://www.tinntreasures.com/history_Barnstar.htm

SAMIAM · 07-15-2007, 08:28 AM

"Whew"...Scared me for a moment......some cult.....or maybe a Masonic thing.....globalists taking over. Where's Art Bell when you need him?
THanks a LOT for solving the mystery.....now my wife will want one.

Flylady · 07-15-2007, 10:59 AM

I noticed the stars popping up several years ago during my trips to NH. Imagine how surprised I was last week when the local market in CA. had several for sale. Somehow I just can't see the star going up with the medeterian style housing of Southern California

wildwoodfam · 07-15-2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetskier

Hi all,

I have noticed a number of houses with red/five point stars. What do they mean?

Jetskier

But I think the real reason you see so many - Christmas Tree Shops had them on sale for $3.99 this past spring, versus Pottery Barn which featured them 2 years ago @ $29.99!!

Don't you just love a bargain!

Weirs guy · 07-16-2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildwoodfam

But I think the real reason you see so many - Christmas Tree Shops had them on sale for $3.99 this past spring, versus Pottery Barn which featured them 2 years ago @ $29.99!!

Don't you just love a bargain!

wildwoodfam, you beat me to the punch!

Argie's Wife · 07-16-2007, 10:31 PM

Next summer, they'll be $1 at your local yard sale!

nj2nh · 07-17-2007, 10:44 AM

The Christmas Tree Shop here in north Jersey was selling tons and tons of them earlier in the spring. Almost got one, but have no place to hang it.

I was in Strasburn PA over the weekend and those stars are everywhere - on the Englisher's houses, though, not the Amish ones. What a beautiful place. I am dying to go back and bring the family though I think my boys (ages 11 and 13) might be a wee bit bored. The food was wonderful and the farmland was simply gorgeous.

Jersey Girl

07-14-2007, 07:58 PM	#1
jetskier Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Reading, MA and South Down Shores Posts: 850 Thanks: 57 Thanked 183 Times in 114 Posts	What is with the stars? Hi all, I have noticed a number of houses with red/five point stars. What do they mean? Jetskier

07-14-2007, 08:17 PM	#2
Lin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Massachusetts & Moultonborough Posts: 673 Thanks: 41 Thanked 15 Times in 11 Posts	we asked that same question last year of someone that had the star and they just told us it's a decorative thing. But we see them everywhere. We'd like to know if it means something else too. We figured it was like the hex symbols from years ago. __________________ Lin

07-15-2007, 10:59 AM	#9
Flylady Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: So. California & Lakes Region Posts: 256 Thanks: 225 Thanked 106 Times in 61 Posts	Fade comes to CA I noticed the stars popping up several years ago during my trips to NH. Imagine how surprised I was last week when the local market in CA. had several for sale. Somehow I just can't see the star going up with the medeterian style housing of Southern California

07-17-2007, 10:44 AM	#13
nj2nh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 518 Thanks: 62 Thanked 42 Times in 23 Posts	Christmas Tree Shops The Christmas Tree Shop here in north Jersey was selling tons and tons of them earlier in the spring. Almost got one, but have no place to hang it. I was in Strasburn PA over the weekend and those stars are everywhere - on the Englisher's houses, though, not the Amish ones. What a beautiful place. I am dying to go back and bring the family though I think my boys (ages 11 and 13) might be a wee bit bored. The food was wonderful and the farmland was simply gorgeous. Jersey Girl __________________

07-14-2007, 08:53 PM	#3
pmj Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 240 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	We wondered the same thing then we went to visit someone who had the star and we were told that it has similar meaning to the pineapple in colonial days..meaning a welcoming symbol. I don't know if that is the whole story or not.

07-14-2007, 09:47 PM	#4
Newbiesaukee Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Coral Gables, winter; Long Island, summer Posts: 1,349 Thanks: 922 Thanked 569 Times in 295 Posts	Although this may not be the final answer, barnstars, as they are known, date at least to the early nineteenth century and are often linked to the Pennsylvania Dutch community ( which was German, not Dutch). In any event, barnstars are fairly common throughout the northeast U.S.

07-14-2007, 09:53 PM	#5
Mickomally Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 51 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	As taken from wikipedia "A barnstar (or barn star) is a decorative piece, often in the shape of a five-pointed star but occasionally in a circular "wagon wheel" style, used to adorn a barn. These are originally and most commonly seen in German and German-American farming communities. Having no structural purpose, they were mainly used for their general aesthetic appeal and were even considered lucky, akin to a horseshoe mounted over a doorway."

07-15-2007, 07:00 AM	#6
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,411 Thanks: 719 Thanked 1,381 Times in 957 Posts	We also noticed them popping up everywhere last year and because I was so curious I asked someone who had them who also said they were decorative and sold at a lot of gift stores now. They are quite a fad. I thought it might have been a religious thing or something. Funny, that we all thought the same thing.

07-15-2007, 08:00 AM	#7
cowislander Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Topsfield Posts: 56 Thanks: 4 Thanked 11 Times in 3 Posts	Google does it again..... http://www.tinntreasures.com/history_Barnstar.htm

07-15-2007, 08:28 AM	#8
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,836 Thanks: 326 Thanked 1,626 Times in 562 Posts	"Whew"...Scared me for a moment......some cult.....or maybe a Masonic thing.....globalists taking over. Where's Art Bell when you need him? THanks a LOT for solving the mystery.....now my wife will want one.

07-16-2007, 10:31 PM	#12
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	Next summer, they'll be $1 at your local yard sale!