The Magic of Hex Signs

I live in a place that has a goodly amount of German-descended folks in the rural population, so occasionally when I’m out cruising along back roads I’ll pass the occasional barn with a hex sign on it. Although hex signs are not associated with modern Wicca, or even ancient Pagan religions, they are certainly worth taking note of, because they’re a really cool and artistic form of folk magic.

Found mostly in the Pennsylvania Dutch country, hex signs — also called barn stars — are symbols painted on homes, cradles, and barns for a variety of magical purposes. The tradition originated in Germany and Switzerland. During the waves of emigration to the United States, settlers brought their folk magic with them. Some of the artwork is very simple and primitive, but often it is quite complex and detailed.

Typically, the designs are painted on a circular background. Each symbol has a different meaning, and so some hex signs may include multiple symbols, depending on what the property owner wants to accomplish. These symbols include protection against fire and natural disasters, magical attack, illness, and more. Sometimes, rather than being for protection, a hex sign may include symbols for prosperity, good health, and even weather magic. A hex sign might be painted on a cradle to ensure a baby’s good health, near a barn to keep cattle or horses safe, or even near a farmer’s field to ensure a flourishing crop.

Common symbols incorporated into designs include, but are not limited to:

• Hearts
• Birds
• Trees and flowers
• Stars and circles
• Livestock such as hens and pigs
• Houses

The appearance of hex signs on the exterior of buildings is limited to a fairly small geographic area — you can sometimes see them on barns or fences in parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and other places that have a lot of people whose ancestors were German settlers. If you happen to come across one, take a minute to appreciate the traditional beauty of the piece!

For more detailed info on hex signs and their history, read this really cool explanation — with some gorgeous photos — from the Glen Cairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, PA: “HEX SIGNS: SACRED AND CELESTIAL SYMBOLISM IN PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH BARN STARS”