The Meaning Behind “Barn Stars”

There is something quite lovely about their existence—from protective talismans to rustic décor. They have reached Pinterest stardom, but have remained on this feeble tether to the old world every step of the way. A little wooden star painted up and nailed to some shingles—it has been up there year after year, but it is more than a decoration. It is a symbol—however different the symbol is than the original meaning.

The next time you see one—maybe you are cruising down a back road or you spot it tucked up in the gable above someone’s garage—take a second look. That star may not just be mounted because the color matches the shutters; maybe it is telling a story—whatever it may look like—a story about tradition, or luck, or family, or simply that basic human need to leave something behind that says, “We were here.”